33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

Treated at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in Chicago, IL.

In October 2014, 3-year-old Charlie experienced a stroke and was rushed to Lurie Children’s Hospital for extensive testing. He was diagnosed with the rare, progressive, life-threatening cerebrovascular condition called Moyamoya Disease. After diagnosis, he underwent successful surgeries on both sides of his brain to restore blood flow to the affected areas.

Charlie was doing well until two years later, when he began suffering from severe headaches, and his family once again found themselves in Lurie Children’s Emergency Department. After placing Charlie on medicine that helps ease the headaches without side effects, recent tests indicated no progression of the disease. Charlie’s new arteries are delivering adequate blood flow, and he shows no signs of new strokes. Specialists at Lurie Children’s world-class Neurovascular Disease and Stroke Program collaborate on his care, ensuring his healthy and unlimited future.

Charlie is now a thriving 13-year-old with indomitable curiosity and love for life. A movie director and avid LEGO builder, he enjoys bike rides (especially for ice cream!), traveling, golf, dogs, reading, exploring nature, and going on new adventures with his family. Fittingly, his favorite song is Elton John "Im Still Standing."

Treated at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, MD.

Emme started learning to walk shortly after her first birthday, but she never took more than a few steps at a time. Her parents thought she just wasn’t ready to walk yet. Months went by, and Emme eventually stopped trying to walk and resorted to scooting. When her parents noticed tremors in her hands and legs, her pediatrician ordered an MRI of her brain. The scan revealed a large tumor on her cerebellum, which had likely been there since birth. Emme had emergency surgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center — eight hours later her skilled neurosurgeon had completely removed the tumor. After a week of recovering, Emme went home, but when a fever spiked a day later she was readmitted to the hospital with meningitis. She was so sick she couldn’t leave her hospital room, but she eventually responded to antibiotics. When Emme recovered she learned to walk and talk with the help of intensive therapy. Now a bubbly 7-year-old with a contagious giggle, Emme makes everyone smile. She loves dinosaurs and playing with her sister.

Treated at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami, FL.

A week after he turned 3, Leonardo was feeling extra tired and getting short of breath when he played. The next week he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing form of blood cancer. Leo began treatment at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital the day he was diagnosed, starting with a week in the pediatric intensive care unit. Over the next three years, his cancer journey led to many hospital stays and many outpatient visits for treatments. Leo’s family will always be grateful for his compassionate cancer care team, who worked tirelessly to not only treat the cancer but also bring him joy along the way. In fact, Leonardo felt so safe and happy with his caregivers that he looked forward to every hospital visit. In the fall of 2022, he celebrated the end of his chemotherapy treatment by ringing the bell. Today Leo is a cheerful 7-year-old who is kind to everyone and enjoys every single day.