Heartwarming News: UCLA & Lakers Honor Young Fan from New Mexico as "Laker For A Day"
PrAtlas/22759883

SANTA FE, N.M. - PrAtlas -- [SANTA FE, NM] -- UCLA Health and the Los Angeles Lakers honored an extraordinary young fan, Sophia Roybal Anderson, as Laker For A Day during the Doubleheader #268, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings vs. Oregon Ducks on February 8th, 2025.

More on PrAtlas

• Santa Monica Businesses Push Back on Bus Stop Relocation That Threatens Access and Safety
• The Blue Luna Encourages Local Schools to Take Steps to Enhance Safety for Students and Staff
• The Sessions Studios Secures $300 Million Commitment to Launch World-Class Studio and 15-Film Global Slate
• Smart Resnse Unveils Smart Resnse(SRMS) Token-Powered AI Orchestration Platform to Revolutionize Multi-Billion Dollar Market
• Josh and Heidi Follow Up the Much Anticipated and Successful Launch of the "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Podcast with a Personal Request

Sophia took center court alongside the Laker Girls in her own Lakers dance outfit, sharing her incredible journey of perseverance and strength.

When Sophia was born, she struggled to breathe and was rapidly losing weight. Her doctors in New Mexico diagnosed her with a rare heart defect, leaving her parents with limited local options. Determined to find the best care, Sophia's mothers got in contact with Dr. Gary M. Satou, MD, at UCLA Health, who was ready to see them immediately. They quickly learned flying at high altitudes would be fatal to their newborn, so they drove 17 hours from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to UCLA Health.

Dr. Gary M. Satou, MD, informed Sophia's parents that she needed open heart surgery at five months old and performed a successful 10-and-a-half-hour procedure with Dr. Peyman Benharash, MD, FACS–giving Sophia a second chance at life. After spending 12 days in the hospital, she was discharged and strong enough to go home.

More on PrAtlas

• Revolutionary Blockchain Platform Okh Finance Announces Okh Finance(OKKH) Token Launch to Transform Global Asset Leasing Market
• Cover Girl Finalist Teisha Mechetti Questions Legitimacy of Inked Originals Competition, Demands Transparency
• Easton & Easton, LLP Files Suit Against The Dwelling Place Anaheim & Vineyard USA Over Abuse Allegations
• AI Visibility: The Key to Beating Google's AI Overviews and Regaining Traffic
• Stuck Doing Math or Figuring Out Life's Numbers? Calculator.now Makes It Stupidly Simple

Sophia and her parents return to UCLA Health for annual checkups and feel like they've become part of their family. Today, she is thriving and is now a proud big sister.

To celebrate her strength and spirit, Sophia was welcomed to the Crypto.com Arena by the Laker Girls, where she danced alongside them in her Lakers gear, creating a special memory that she and her family will always remember.

Sophia now explores new places with her family as travel bloggers on Sophie Says Road Trip, where you get to come along their adventures through her eyes.

For more information on sponsoring a trip for Sophia, you can contact Yvette here.

Santa Fe locals can also visit Octane GMC, owned by Yvette, the first women-owned franchise in Santa Fe, for all your vehicle needs.