Born deaf in her right ear, Brigid had a cochlear implant inserted to partially restore hearing. She later lost hearing in her left ear and had a second implant. Since then, Brigid has found her voice. She's discovered singing and reading and happily broadcasts her ideas.

The pandemic has posed new challenges. Brigid relies on immunosuppressants to prevent transplant rejection, making her more susceptible to infection. Plus, masks can hinder communication for the hard of hearing. Melissa and her husband Laurence work closely with Boston Children's experts to make decisions about school and other activities.

Meanwhile, Brigid has taken it all in stride. Last fall, she marked another accomplishment—her fourth year as a Miles for Miracles Boston Marathon patient partner. “It's empowering for her to be part of a team supporting the hospital,” says Melissa.

As Melissa and Laurence anticipate their daughter's future, they hope Brigid continues to blossom as an advocate for herself, for the deaf and hard of hearing community and for Boston Children's patients.

Nine months later, Dante needed additional inpatient testing. Miller knew the stay would be especially challenging in the COVID environment. Wanting to position Dante for success, she enlisted colleagues around the hospital to help Dante meet his goals.

Engineering staff created a book about Boston Children's elevators for their biggest fan and persuaded their partners at Stanley Elevator to send Dante some swag.

Miller also tapped into his love for music, recruiting a music therapist to compose lyrics incorporating the behavior plan to Dante's favorite song, “Old Town Road.”

The interventions paid off, helping doctors as they continue to unravel the cause of Dante's seizures. Meanwhile, Olivia will continue devising plans to help other kids meet their care goals, and Dante can be found in his favorite elevator t-shirt crooning his song.

In a recent Zoom class, River held a crayon in her hands, coloring as she moved it back and forth on a piece of paper. It was an incredible moment, says Courtney. “She was so proud of herself.”

When she's not encouraging her brothers' antics, River chases the rush of adrenaline. In a swing, she wants to go as high and fast as possible. She loves spinning around in a chair and gliding down a slide.

Courtney sees parallels between her daughter's incredible tenacity for life and the natural phenomenon whose name she shares. Undaunted by obstacles, both are on a journey—delighting those nearby as they chase an unseen destination.

But from an early age, the girls experienced troubling symptoms, ranging from significant language and motor skill delays to seizures. A diagnosis eluded the family until the girls underwent whole exome sequencing at Boston Children's. Elise and Lily were both found to have SYNGAP1 syndrome. In 2018, there were only 250 known cases of SYNGAP1 in the world. Now, there are more than 700.

Today, the family is part of a strong global community dedicated to advancing research and ensuring that children with SYNGAP1 succeed. Lily and Elise attend school, where they are learning new skills and gaining independence. Both girls receive subspecialized care at Boston Children's, and their diagnosis opens doors to future trials of targeted therapies for SYNGAP1. Grateful for the answers and support her family has received, Erin serves on Boston Children's Family Advisory Council—where she is helping others find their own paths.

Her goal? A world that celebrates and capitalizes on children's strengths and individual interests. “Sails will adjust as we go, but it's fun to picture what might give every child her best life.”

Support from Boston Children's diabetes program staff has been essential, helping Alannah and her family adapt to her condition.

Alannah now wears a continuous glucose monitor that sends alerts when she needs to eat or drink to combat plummeting blood sugar levels. The monitor also notifies caregivers when she may need additional insulin. And finally, the device introduced Alannah to the science of nutrition, making her more aware of how food choices impact health.

While Alannah recognizes the need to manage her blood sugar levels at all times, she's focused on being a “typical” third grader. When she's not in school, Alannah enjoys playing with friends and daydreaming about her future—and a career caring for sick children or entertaining them.

When Ava was in sixth grade, her parents brought her to a therapist near their home and to a psychiatrist at Boston Children's, who prescribed medication. Then, she was referred to a Boston Children's therapist. Her symptoms decreased—dramatically.

Along with newfound freedom from the worst of her anxiety, Ava has found strength as an advocate. She spoke at the Boston Children's 2019 State House Breakfast about the need for all children to have access to mental health resources.

Though the pandemic has sparked some resurgence of her symptoms, Ava is optimistic about the future. Medication and therapy curb her anxiety, and advocacy work empowers and heals her.

“Boston Children's has given me a voice. Today, I'm a warrior not a worrier.”

“When we tell Jackson it's time for a surgery, he can't wait to get it done so he can play in the game room,” says Wendy. Through a dozen operations, Jackson has soaked up every opportunity for fun and friendship.

Wendy says the days can feel long for families when a child is undergoing surgery, but Jackson's zealous embrace of Boston Children's makes every admission feel like an adventure. He dwells on the positive—for instance, the thrill of seeing dogs perform tricks in the patient entertainment center.

“Jackson was so excited to watch it,” says Wendy. When friends and family called to check in, Jackson skipped right to the point, shouting: “I'm going to a dog show!”

An easygoing fourth-grade student with a talent for bringing out the best in people, Jackson is constantly finding ways to grow the Boston Children's community—befriending patients in the game room, charming doctors and staff and even recruiting supporters to fundraisers. “People come from all over the world to go to Boston Children's. But for Jackson, it's just a home he loves, his second home,” says Wendy.