I've joined the Miles for Miracles Team for the TCS New York City Marathon!!
Boston Children’s Hospital is a world renowned referral center that helps kids find lifesaving care. I am so fortunate to have travelled the journey with some of my own patients as they have found their way to Boston Children's for treatment of complex medical issues.
Kennedy is a sweet adorable 6 year old girl with Cri du Chat. Born prematurely, she struggled to feed and breathe. After doctors at two other hospitals gave her parents little hope she would survive, they came to Boston Children’s. They were met with optimism from an expert care team. Kennedy had open-heart surgery and a tracheostomy tube to support her weakened windpipe. She grew stronger and after 136 days, she finally went home. Now she visits Boston Children’s often for sub specialty care. She enjoys adaptive dance, skiing, skating and playing with her little sister. I have been so excited to watch her amazing growth and progress since she was born.
Makai is a fun loving 3 year old boy - one of triplets. He was premature and had a complicated neonatal course that resulted in him losing a large portion of his intestine resulting in “short bowel syndrome”, a potentially life threatening condition in which the lack of functioning intestine can make it difficult to absorb nutrients needed to survive and thrive. Makai’s parents were familiar with the amazing care at Boston Children’s after their now healthy teenage daughter Dyani was treated there for her urinary tract anomalies and chronic kidney disease. Makai was transferred from his local hospital to the Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation at BCH. Relocating to another state - even temporarily - is difficult enough with one child. Makai's family had to juggle work, their teenage daughter and Makai's brothers. The team at Boston Children's found the family temporary housing and provided other support as they navigated Makai's hospitalization and care. Before Makai was able to come home, his brother Gabriel required emergency surgery related to an inguinal hernia. The on-call surgeon operated on Gabriel on a Saturday, and Boston Children's made is possible for the boys to share Makai's hospital room while Gabriel recovered. Now Makai, Gabriel and Eric are busy active preschoolers (their parents are exhausted!!), and Dyani is enjoying life as an RA in college.
And Ada!! Now age 15, she was sent by ambulance to Boston Children's from her local hospital shortly after she was born. At one week old she had open-heart surgery to repair her transposition of the great vessels, septal defects and coronary artery anomalies. Without this surgery she would not have survived more than a few weeks. She returned to Boston on the 15th anniversary of her surgery, not as a patient, but as a student at the Boston Ballet School Summer Dance Intensive - a program for aspiring professional ballerinas. WOW!!!
What a privilege it is to know these gorgeous children and their beautiful families, and to watch them grow and thrive because of the care they received.
I could tell you even more stories..........
Will you help me support more children and families by helping me reach my fundraising goal with a donation today?
Every dollar I raise funds breakthrough research, family support services, and vital care not covered by insurance through the hospital’s Every Child Fund. Your gift will:
- give children battling the most complex diseases treatments they can’t find anywhere else;
- help children in your town and across the world get a second chance;
- fuel 3,000+ researchers working to find cures;
- help patient-families in crisis with urgent needs, including housing, food and clothing;
- bring crucial care to families through outpatient psychiatry clinics;
- and so much more.
Please support my fundraising—and help the children and families at Boston Children’s and beyond.
