16-year-old Jonathan has been visiting Children’s Specialized Hospital since he was a baby. Jonathan was born with Right Hemiparesis Cerebral Palsy, weakening the entire right side of the body. Diagnosed at 15–months old, Jonathan’s care team shared a blueprint of physical and occupational therapy to pave the best path forward. Throughout his childhood, Jonathan has endured nine separate surgeries and consistently attends physical therapy to increase his mobility. His nurses and therapists are like a second family to Jonathan, always supporting him and helping him grow stronger. Thanks to the care he receives and his willingness to challenge himself, Jonathan has been able to pursue his passions—he’s in his high school’s marching band and plays the trumpet and bass. Jonathan has additional surgeries down the road and will continue occupational and physical therapy to help him live life to the fullest.

Hewitt is a social butterfly and a star student, so when he asked to skip school, his parents knew something was unusual. His main symptom, reoccurring headaches, prompted an MRI at Arkansas Children’s that revealed a baseball-sized tumor near the base of his skull. Hewitt’s treatment began swiftly, with a five-hour craniotomy to remove the tumor. Tumor tissue samples were sent to a lab, ultimately discovering that Hewitt’s cancer was rare, malignant, and fast-growing. Because certain forms of radiation can impact a child’s growth, doctors landed on a combination of both chemotherapy and proton beam therapy, a new radiation that causes less tissue damage. Through all six months of treatment, the nurses and child life specialists at Arkansas Children’s became a pivotal support system for Hewitt. With every new phase of treatment, the team explained the process so Hewitt could easily understand. He responded well to the treatment, and on March 13, 2024, Hewitt rang the bell, symbolizing being cancer-free! Today, he’s in remission and back to doing what he loves most – hanging with friends, being a great big brother, and excelling in school.

When Alyssa was in middle school, she was diagnosed with scoliosis and received a customized back brace in hopes of halting the growing curve and avoiding surgery. But the curve continued to worsen, and after Alyssa’s freshman year, it was time for surgery. Alyssa and her family traveled to Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah Memorial Health, where she received a spinal fusion to straighten the curve. Throughout the six-hour surgery, the nurses comforted Mackenzie’s family, ensuring they understood each step. The procedure was successful, and within one week of the surgery, Alyssa had already “grown” one inch from her straightened spine! As a spirit cheerleader and sprinter for her track team, she worried how the surgery might affect her active lifestyle. But within six weeks of recovering, Alyssa was able to participate in cheer camp. While she has some restraints in stretching, she continues to cheer and run on her track team.

A few years ago, foster parents Pam and Bobby received a call about a 6-month-old, Harrison, who needed an adoptive family. Harrison wasn’t like most other babies – he had a rare genetic condition called Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) that limits mobility and weakens pivotal muscles. Touched by his story, Pam and Bobby decided to give Harrison a forever home. After welcoming Harrison into their family, they met with Children’s Medical Center Dallas experts to discuss treatment options. Kaitlin Batley, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist and Director of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program at Children’s Health, outlined a new gene therapy that slows down DMD, helping children maintain the muscles needed to grow and thrive. Harrison received this innovative one-time treatment, and since then, he’s gotten better and grown stronger – walking, running, climbing, and even jumping a little! The family continues to visit Children’s Health to monitor his progress and discuss future treatments, and Pam and Bobby feel incredibly grateful for their dedicated care team as they navigate their first child with complex medical needs.

During Gavin’s first few years of life, he struggled with rashes, severe abdominal pain, and high fevers. When he started kindergarten, a trip to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital changed everything. Doctors conducted thorough testing and discovered the underlying cause of Gavin’s pain: Crohn’s Disease. Crohn’s Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic pain and inflammation in the digestive tract. Gavin began monthly infusions, and his nurses quickly became a source of care and comfort. From bringing him toys to playing games, he always felt at home with his team. The infusions proved to be a success, ultimately allowing Gavin to enter remission! Gavin and his family felt so supported throughout his treatments that they wanted to do something in return. They’ve organized multiple donation drives, collecting hundreds of new toys for the hospital. Through their help, other pediatric patients can experience the same fun and welcoming environment that comforted Gavin through his treatments. Now in sixth grade and still in remission, Gavin loves playing golf, swimming, and playing with Legos.

From the moment Luciana was born prematurely, she’s been a fighter. She entered the world facing multiple challenges, including a three-centimeter difference in leg length and foot sizes. When she turned three, she had her first procedure at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to help her walk straight and correct her foot. As she got older and eventually stopped growing, doctors needed to make her legs the same length. They used a new internal device that broke the bone and stretched it until it was the same size as her other leg. Today, thanks to the care she received, Luciana no longer limps and is an active teenager. While Luciana felt supported through her surgeries and rehabilitation at Nicklaus, she knows that resources for limb-lengthening surgeries can be limited. This inspired her to write a guide for teens undergoing similar procedures, providing physical and mental tips to navigate the challenges that come with the limb-lengthening process. She hopes her guide will help other teenagers remain optimistic through their unique journeys.