Nathan Joung’s Bright Future
For much of Nathan Joung’s life, he kept his head down, hoping people didn’t notice him. But on a recent visit to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the smile on Nathan’s face clearly showed his confidence—and rightly so. He was wrapping up his final year as a CHLA Junior Ambassador before heading to college in Boston, where he is studying health sciences and health humanities.
“CHLA helped shape the life I want to live, the person I want to be and the career I want to pursue,” Nathan, 18, says. “It’s just a special place.”
Reflecting on his experiences with CHLA, Nathan is filled with gratitude. His relationship with the hospital started in infancy. Born with frontonasal dysplasia, a rare condition characterized by abnormal development of the head and face in utero, Nathan had an asymmetrical facial structure and was missing his nasal bone, which impeded his ability to breathe. His parents were referred to Mark Urata, MD, DDS, Chief of the Division of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at CHLA.
‘The hardest of times’
During Nathan’s childhood, Dr. Urata performed a series of craniofacial reconstructive surgeries, the most pivotal of which happened during the summer between Nathan’s fifth- and sixth-grade years.
Nathan was born with his eyes very wide apart, so Dr. Urata performed a monobloc facial bipartition. One of a handful of surgeons in the world who performs this highly complex procedure, Dr. Urata and his team separated the face from the skull and then removed some bone in between the eye sockets to bring Nathan’s eyes closer together.
While his friends played in the summer soccer league, went swimming and had sleepovers, Nathan underwent a major surgery that required a two-week hospitalization, followed by months of recovery at home.
“I was so frustrated to be in that situation the summer before middle school when there were already so many changes happening in my life,” Nathan says, noting that his twin brother was not born with frontonasal dysplasia. “It was the hardest of times for me and I remember thinking, ‘Why this life for me?’”
For years, Nathan was self-conscious when people looked at him—unsure if they were curious or being rude. After the surgery, his head, nose and jaw were completely bandaged, rendering him unable to speak. His eyes were so swollen he couldn’t see. He was distraught and emotional, and knowing more surgeries were needed in his future was daunting. But he credits his care team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with being there when he needed it most.
“There was a nurse who was with me for a whole week, and I felt seen by her—she knew somehow exactly what I needed,” Nathan says. “I remember another time I was crying for hours, and a Child Life specialist sat with me and comforted me. I wish I knew their names and could thank them because their presence made such a difference. I still think about them now.”
Inspired to give back
Once Nathan’s bandages were removed, there was a shift. He began to notice the physical changes to his face and feel more confident.
“After I started to heal, I could breathe better. But more importantly, I saw how that surgery changed my appearance and facial structure,” he recalls. “Dr. Urata had a big role in changing the way I perceive myself. It made a big difference in the way I lived my life afterward.”
Dr. Urata is gratified knowing that Nathan's confidence was boosted by the surgery—and is equally proud of the person Nathan has become.
“When we are at our best, our surgeries help kids to have a more normal appearance and that, in turn, can allow them to grow into adolescents and adults with confidence, self-worth and happiness. Nathan has taken that to the next level as he is altruistically focused on helping others and making the lives of those around him better,” he says. “We learn and gain just as much from our patients as they do from us. Nathan is the perfect example of that. He is just an amazing young man.”
Instead of dreading coming to the hospital, Nathan began to look forward to his follow-up visits, and eventually he started searching for ways to give back to the people and the place that meant so much to him.
“The nurses and the doctors are super supportive and caring and make sure you’re seen and heard,” says Nathan. “That’s why in my sophomore year, I applied to be a Junior Ambassador—to be a representative for the hospital and for patients who are in the same spot I was in several years ago.”
‘Being vulnerable is the greatest thing you can do’
The Junior Ambassadors Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles brings together kids and teens who are passionate about supporting the institution and its mission. In addition to attempting to raise $1,000 or more every year for the hospital, participants become active hospital representatives in their communities.
As a Junior Ambassador, Nathan has raised thousands of dollars for CHLA through online and email fundraising campaigns, Walk & Play L.A. and selling items such as clothing his father made at the Melrose Trading Post. His younger sister, Kaelin, is also a Junior Ambassador.
Through the program, Nathan has met other CHLA patients who talked to him about the medical challenges they faced and overcame. Listening to their stories inspired him to open up about his own experiences.
“Two years ago, I wasn’t sure I would ever want to share something so personal with people,” Nathan says. “I really struggled in social settings. The program has taught me that being vulnerable is the greatest thing you can do because you don’t know who you can help, right?”
The program also gave him the nudge to pursue more opportunities outside the hospital. During his senior year, he was the president of his high school’s California Scholarship Federation club.
“I gave weekly and monthly speeches in front of 150 people,” Nathan says. “It was all eyes on me—something I hated when I was younger. But doing the opposite helped me push through.”
Finding purpose
These days, whenever Nathan visits Children's Hospital Los Angeles, he feels gratitude for his entire journey, even the most challenging moments. “Everything about me was built here at the hospital,” he says.
For any kid facing a health challenge—or any obstacle that feels overwhelming—Nathan offers some advice.
“Embrace life’s hard moments and acknowledge that those experiences will make you stronger and help you find a purpose. You can be frustrated and annoyed, but don’t get stuck in a victim mindset because those moments will show you a path of what you can become.”
