Little girl born without an immune system returns to Los Angeles hospital

After receiving a thymus implant almost a year ago, little Syanne Landron is back in the hospital with another health struggle.

The Landron family waved to CBS LA from the fifth floor at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital on Friday as they celebrated Syanne's 2nd birthday in isolation. For the past two years, her family has been living in a bubble of near-total isolation to protect Syanne as any exposure to germs or infection can kill the toddler.

"Even as people are listening to this story, we live a life that is unheard of," mother Marilyn Landron said. "Our life is not like everybody else's life."

The thymus implant was supposed to help her body produce its own infection-fighting T-cells, but her immune system hasn't developed as much as they hoped. 

"It's been a rollercoaster for sure," father Alex Landron said.

Syanne and her family have been in the hospital for the past six weeks after her little body struggled once again. While there, the family received some good news when doctors learned that her body had not rejected her transplant. 

"It's not very common that you see kids get a second chance at a transplant," Marilyn said. 

More time in the hospital lies ahead, which includes more tests. With Syanne speaking now, she's verbalizing her pain. 

"Help me. Please stop. I don't like it," Marilyn recalled her daughter saying. "To hear those kinds of things, it's heartbreaking."

But on Friday, the family was overjoyed to celebrate Syanne's second birthday, a date that many did not expect to happen. The doctors and nurses joined the hospital party. 

"I think it's remarkable she made it to her second birthday," Dr. Caroline Kuo said. "We're all so excited, but we're still waiting."