At 6 weeks old, Michael was tested for cystic fibrosis at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin because his older sister had the genetic disease. The test confirmed that he too would face the health challenges caused by the disease, which affects the mucus lining of the lungs.
For the past 18 years, the hospital’s specialists have stayed on top of Michael’s condition with regular three-month checkups that track his lung factions, weight and height. Although Michael has had to undergo three sinus surgeries and must do airway clearance with a nebulizer three times a day, the expert care he’s receiving allows him to keep up with his many hobbies, including listening to music, studying foreign languages and watching baseball.
Leave a comment to cheer on Michael as he travels to Washington, DC to champion children's health issues.
When Samantha’s parents took her to the doctor three years ago for what they thought was a nagging virus, they were stunned to learn she has Fanconi anemia, a rare blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure. The first good news the family received after this life-changing diagnosis was that Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has the Fanconi Anemia Comprehensive Care Center, where doctors and nurses are now providing Samantha the specialized services she needs.
When 3-year-old Tenley smiles at you, you can’t help but smile back. And thanks to Texas Children’s Hospital, she has a smile on her face almost all of the time.
The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Pediatric Liver Transplant Program has one of the highest success rates in the nation. One of its success stories is 11-year-old Alberto, who had his first liver transplant when he was just an infant. The transplant lasted three years before a second transplant was needed.
On Oct. 3, 2005, parents Caroline and Dean watched their worst nightmare unfold. Eleven-month-old Sam was crawling on their driveway when he was suddenly hit by a car. An ambulance took Sam to The Children's Hospital Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) where, for 24 hours, he teetered between life and death. Doctors stabilized him and moved him to the pediatric intensive care unit. With an uncountable number of broken bones in his head and face, Sam needed major reconstructive surgery.
Minutes after her birth, Abby was diagnosed with bilateral choanal atresia, an obstruction that blocked both sides of her nasal airway. Because babies have to use their noses to breathe, the condition was life-threatening. A series of highly specialized surgeries at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota opened Abby’s airway, which is now growing normally.
Seventeen years ago, parents Joan and Creager waited anxiously for their 11-day-old daughter, Leah, to come out of heart transplant surgery at Riley Hospital for Children. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the transplant was Leah’s only chance for survival.
When Bella was 6-weeks-old and in the NICU, her family first heard the term “Prader Willi Syndrome.” The genetic disease resulted in an eating disorder and a host of other serious physical and cognitive challenges. To give Bella the best opportunity to succeed, her parents turned to Children’s Specialized Hospital. Not only did Bella get the medical care she needed, staff gave her family something just as important — hope.
Taylor was diagnosed with a benign tumor on her spinal cord when she was 3 years old. The tumor was causing her spinal cord to be tethered; without surgery she would be paralyzed from her waist down. Her parents turned to an “amazing” pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s National Medical Center to remove the tumor and detether her cord.
Trying to get 4-year-old Jade to sit still is about as easy as resisting her infectious laugh. But her parents don’t mind being kept on their toes, calling her and twin sister, Erin, “absolute miracles.” Jade and Erin were born conjoined sharing an umbilical cord, liver, diaphragm and pericardium. Erin’s heart was also 60 percent inside of Jade’s chest.
Erin is the true definition of tenacious. She and her twin sister, Jade, were born conjoined, sharing an umbilical cord, liver, diaphragm and pericardium. Erin’s heart was also 60 percent inside of Jade’s chest. 
Long, blonde hair streaming behind her, 4-year-old Katie runs at top speed wherever she goes. She no longer has the limp that led doctors at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to diagnose her with acute myeloid leukemia at age 2. In less than 24 hours following the diagnosis, Katie received her first chemotherapy treatment.
When LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, Inc. neurologists found a tumor three centimeters in diameter attached to 2-and-a-half-year-old Anna’s frontal lobe, they didn’t spend too much time trying to figure out how the tumor had gotten so big, so fast. Instead, they immediately began work to get rid of it.
Cedric was born premature and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 1 year old, which resulted in severe spasticity. Determined to help him become as independent as possible as he grew older, his mother turned to The HSC Pediatric Center for rehabilitation and the use of assistive technology — including a power wheelchair. As thankful as Cedric and his family are for the hospital’s efforts, the staff is just as grateful for the outstanding ideas he presents to them as a member of the HSC Family Advisory Committee.
Jaylynn is, in many ways, like any preschooler who sports pigtails, loves SpongeBob SquarePants and has the amazing ability to turn into a superhero. But her premature birth at just 25 weeks left her with extraordinary health challenges that Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron is helping her overcome.
Piano is Amiel’s passion. A passion he pursues despite the fact he has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder. While the instructors at his summer music program teach him new songs and techniques, his hematologists and oncologists at Children’s Hospital Boston are teaching him and his family how to manage his disease. Those specialists, who have treated Amiel since infancy, saved his life when he spent more than a month in the hospital for acute chest syndrome and a pulmonary embolism.
He once needed help to get up off the floor. Six years later, Miles is pinning opponents to the mat as part of his school’s undefeated junior varsity wrestling team. Diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own muscles, he went through two grueling years of intravenous drug treatments.
As a budding artist, Deanna can appreciate the gentle curve of an apple or a person’s cheek. But when it came to the curvature of her spine, she and her family turned to All Children’s Hospital, Inc. to help her beat the disease that was keeping her from standing up straight.
Soon after he was born, Bower suffered a life-threatening gastrointestinal infection that resulted in brain damage. At 6 months, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. At 8 months, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. And at 1 year, he was diagnosed with a congenital brain malformation that causes blindness and affects the endocrine system.
Nephrotic Syndrome caused Jacob to lose his kidneys but not his optimism. At 16 months old he was diagnosed with the rare disorder, which led to a perforated bowel, blood clots, a pulmonary embolism, inflammation of his stomach tissue, and, last year, kidney failure.
Amauri knows how to live life to the fullest. Hearing her sing, watching her play video games or listening to her plans to become an anesthesiologist or nurse, you would never know this enthusiastic fourth grader has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder. 
They say that laughter is the best medicine. If that’s the case, spend some time with 9-year-old Sarah and you’ll quickly be healed. When this funny girl bowled a strike at her recent birthday party, she shouted, “Yeah, baby!” so loud that nobody in the bowling alley could contain their laughter and smiles.
Some people just have it. A special something that makes people feel good just being around them. Sixteen-year-old Adeola was born with that gift, as well as with sickle cell disease.
