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

SANTA FE, N.M. - EntSun -- [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 EntSun News

• Dugan Air Donates $10,000 to Indian Creek Schools
• The Best And Worst Of Entertainment In 2025 Revealed
• Robert DeMaio, Phinge Founder & CEO, Ranked #1 Globally on Crunchbase, Continues to Convert Previous Debt Owed to Him by Phinge into Convertible Notes
• Indie Film Marries Arthouse Aesthetics to Fantasy While Tackling Themes of Humanity and the Ecology
• 2025: A Turning Point for Human Rights. CCHR Demands End to Coercive Psychiatry

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 EntSun News

• The 22% Tax Reality: Finland's New Gambling Law Creates a "Fiscal Trap" for Grey Market Casino Players
• Streaming Industry Consultant Marc Rashba Joins BayView and DotStudioPro to Bolster Content Reach
• Holiday Comedy A Boyfriend For Christmas Wins Over Audiences with Laughs, Heart — and a Twist
• Phinge Founder & CEO Robert DeMaio Ranked #1 Globally on Crunchbase, Continues to Convert Previous Debt Owed to Him by Phinge into Convertible Notes
• TIA LYNN — a new direction, a higher level. 2026 it's up

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.