Author: John Mosley, C’14
I was born on May 2, 1992, at 9:02 A.M. Right away, the doctors noticed that something wasn’t quite right: I was blue. They soon discovered that blood wasn’t circulating throughout my body. I was rushed into emergency heart surgery. The surgeons realized one of my pulmonary arteries had been switched with my aorta. They proceeded to switch the two back and, in doing so, saved my life.
Why am I telling you this? Because it happened at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia(CHOP)—a building I can see from my dorm room. The University of Penn has been a vital part of my life since the moment I was born. The University literally saved my life. Perhaps that is why, 18 years later, I became heart-set on being accepted to this University.
Today, I will be missing an afternoon class because I am going to CHOP for the 18th consecutive year for my annual checkup with Dr. Weinberg, my cardiologist. Dr. Weinberg has been with my almost my entire life and has been guiding me through this heart defect. At least once a year for 18 years, I have been on Penn’s campus to receive this checkup. I remember my dad showing me Franklin Field when I was 9 or 10. I remember walking by the Quad in my early adolescence. The University that has been so vital to my well-being, so it makes sense that the University continues to be where I am enriched and prepared for a career. Penn continues to have a profound influence on my life. It is only fitting that I chose Penn.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Frankly Penn 