All about Eliza, Pippa and Lucky

Caterina Scorsone is best known for playing Dr. Amelia Shepherd, a neurosurgeon who is initially hesitant about becoming a mother, but in real life is a devoted mother to her three children, Eliza, Pippa, and Lucky.

The Grey’s Anatomy star and her ex-husband, musician Rob Giles, welcomed their first child, Eliza Giles, in 2012. Four years later, in 2016, the couple announced the birth of Paloma Michaela Giles, whom they call Pippa. In 2019, their family grew again with the arrival of Lucinda “Lucky” Giles. The couple divorced in 2020 after 10 years of marriage, but their priority remains co-parenting their three girls.

In 2019, Scorsone opened up to People about the joys and turmoil of motherhood and being able to cope with all that comes with it. “Where you thought you were developing a sense of humor and protecting your ego, you can just laugh because it’s over,” she explained.

Scorsone’s daughter Pippa was born with Down syndrome, and the actress has since become a passionate and outspoken advocate for children with cognitive disabilities. Speaking to PEOPLE in October 2020, she said her daughter’s “difference sparked my life and my family’s life.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Caterina Scorsone’s children, Eliza, Pippa, and Lucky.

Eliza Giles, 13 years old

Scorsone and Giles welcomed their first child, daughter Eliza Giles, on July 6, 2012.

Scorsone gave birth to her daughter at home in Los Angeles with the help of a midwife. “We couldn’t be more in love with her and are so grateful for this beautiful miracle,” she and Giles told PEOPLE.

Although Eliza has appeared on magazine covers with her mother and sisters, the preteen is more interested in entrepreneurship than a career in entertainment.

“It’s important for women to be financially independent, so for Eliza’s last birthday we gave her a bank account,” Scorsone told Parents in 2022. “She has saved up her pocket money, knows how to use banking apps and is now interested in starting a business.”

The Private Practice star continued, “The other day she picked vegetables from our garden to sell. She said she wanted a card reader for Christmas because no one carries cash.”

In the same interview, Scorsone said that Eliza “started riding horses.” The actress explained that her friend and Grey’s Anatomy co-star Kevin McKidd has a farm where she raises rescue animals, and she often stops by there.

“On Sundays, I often drive Eliza to the farm for horseback riding lessons,” she said.

Scorsone, who has three children, cherishes the quality time she spends with her oldest daughter during trips to McKidd stores. “It’s an hour and a half drive, so we have time to talk,” she said. “Some of our best conversations are in the car.”

Paloma “Pippa” Michaela Giles, 9 years old

Scorsson and Giles welcomed their daughter, Paloma “Pippa” Michaela Giles, on November 4, 2016.

The 1-800 missing alumni announced the news a few days later on Instagram in an Election Day-themed post with an “I Voted” sticker. “I’m with her. Introducing Paloma Michaela Giles,” she wrote in the caption. “The future is female ❤️”

Pippa, who was born with Down’s syndrome, has changed the way Scorsone views motherhood, something she has previously spoken openly about. She admitted she was “scared” by the unknown, but the actress’ fears quickly disappeared when she held her newborn for the first time.

“I looked at my little baby, who would eventually grow into funny, stubborn, beautiful little Pippa, and realized how limited my life had been until that moment. How small and shrunken I was,” she told PEOPLE in October 2020.

Scorsone explained that while her daughter’s diagnosis can be anxiety-provoking, she has learned that raising any child comes with a degree of uncertainty and fear.

“I don’t know what challenges she will face in the future. I don’t know if she will be able to find a job that fits her interests and talents,” she says. “But I don’t know about the other girls either. Pippa is perfect the way she is.”

In an interview on the Motherly podcast in March 2019, Scorsone talked about the process of explaining Pippa’s diagnosis to her eldest daughter.

“Her growth is slowing down, but she’s still growing. She’s still reaching all her milestones. It’s just happening at a different rate,” she said. “This was an easy way to make Eliza understand what was going on and that she was going to be a baby for a little while longer.”

The actress went on to say that Pippa’s presence helped her rethink her approach to parenting. “I realized how much I love the qualities of my oldest daughter Eliza,” she said, describing her as “smart,” “beautiful,” and “very funny.” But Scorsone came to realize that “all of those were external qualities.”

After giving birth to Pippa, she experienced an inner change and learned to love people for their “essence,” which she called “the most healing and nourishing gift the universe could have given me.”

In October 2020, Scorsone wrote a powerful and heartfelt essay for Good Morning America about the importance of advocacy in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

“My daughter Pippa has iridescent eyes,” she wrote, explaining that her eyes are conspicuous because of a feature common in people with Down syndrome called Blashfield spots. “But Pippa doesn’t have Down syndrome. Pippa is Pippa.”

“Pippa is different. She has a visual learning profile that makes it easier for her to learn from pictures and print rather than listening to a teacher’s lecture,” she continued. “Pippa needs to be supported in concrete ways to achieve what she sets out to do, to grow and to fulfill her own aspirations.”

Lucinda “Lucky” Giles, 5 years old

Scorsone and Giles welcomed their daughter, Lucinda “Lucky” Giles, on December 13, 2019.

The actress shared the birth announcement on Instagram, announcing that she and Giles’ third child is Arwen Giles. However, four months later, the actress revealed that she had decided to change her name.

“By the way, what are we going to call her middle name? Lucinda. ‘Lucky’ for short,” she wrote on social media.

Less than a month after announcing their youngest daughter’s new name, Scorsone and Giles filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage. A rep for the couple confirmed the news, telling PEOPLE, “Katerina and Rob have separated. They remain friends and are committed to co-parenting their children in a spirit of love.”

Since their separation, Scorsone has focused on the positives, as evidenced by her first Mother’s Day celebration since their separation. “This Mother’s Day, I was stunned and awed by the love that filled my home,” she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post, along with a tender snapshot with her daughters. “In the midst of quarantine, love is stronger than ever.”

The Grey’s Anatomy star described her youngest child as easy-going and strong. “Lucky might be my most chill baby. When it’s just us, we go to the garden and sit and play with pebbles or play with leaves and flowers on the deck,” she told Parents magazine.

“Lucky has to be tough because he has two older siblings,” Scorsone added. “She grimaces a little to let you know you’ve overstepped her bounds. I’m sure she has a wicked sense of humor.”

The mother of three also shared the importance of spending one-on-one time with each of her children. “I make sure to check in with each person,” she said. “And it’s more peaceful here. If we spent the whole weekend as one group, there would be a lot of fighting and crying!”