33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

Treated at University of Michigan Health at Sparrow Children's Center in Lansing, MI.

At 17 weeks pregnant, Ryan’s mom, Becky, was diagnosed with a subchorionic hematoma. Soon after, Becky was placed on bedrest for 6 weeks until Ryan was born via an emergency C-section at 23 weeks.

Ryan weighed one pound seven ounces at birth. In the University of Michigan Health at Sparrow Children’s Center’s Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU), he was supported by a team of neonatologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, and many others. Ryan’s time in the NICU was marked by underdeveloped lungs and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, multiple infections, intraventricular hemorrhages, necrotizing enterocolitis, and advanced retinopathy of prematurity.

After discharge, Ryan required regular follow-up appointments with many subspecialists, therapists, medical equipment providers, and others. He was readmitted that first year into the pediatric intensive care unit for breathing difficulties, and additional surgery.

Today, Ryan is a 14-year-old who exemplifies perseverance. He loves to build things, ride his bike and hoverboard, and play in the band!

Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Ryan had access to a team of lifesaving specialists in the neonatal intensive care unit after being 17 weeks prematurely.

Treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Toledo, OH.

Two weeks before Myla’s sixth birthday she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Myla’s diagnoses came during the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, Myla’s dad had to wait out in the van while they remained in the emergency room. It was through a video call that he heard the words “your child has cancer.” Myla initially spent ten days in the hospital where she had surgery to have her port placed, receive her first few rounds of chemotherapy, and many blood transfusions. After her release from the hospital, Myla began experiencing severe neuropathy. She had difficulty walking, using her hands, and her vocal cords were becoming paralyzed. Myla tested positive for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Two weeks later, she was sent home with many mobility and occupational therapy devices to help her regain her independence.

Today, Myla is nine and has returned to things she loved to do before her diagnosis- like riding a bike, doing ballet, and going to school. Myla keeps a smile on her face and takes things one day at a time!

Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Myla had access to the therapies, specialists, and equipment that helped her overcome leukemia and get back to all her favorite activities.

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

After a seemingly healthy pregnancy, Jaxon’s parents were told not to worry by medical providers by a few early signals that something seemed off. Thankfully, his uncle noticed the ridge along Jaxon’s forehead and did not believe the triangular shape of Jaxon’s head was caused by the trauma of delivery. At two weeks old, a CAT scan confirmed Jaxon’s metopic craniosynostosis, where the soft spot at the top of his head had been prematurely fused together in the womb. Jaxon’s parents took him to the renowned Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Brain Institute. At seven months old, Jaxon underwent an eight-hour cranial procedure at Nicklaus Children’s. Despite the challenges, he was in good hands, even combatting other anomalies such as the misalignment of the eyes, a hole in his heart, a horseshoe-shaped kidney, and more. Given the range of birth defects their son faced, Jaxon’s parents’ genetics testing at Nicklaus Children’s confirmed that he had a rare gene mutation in CDK13. There wasn’t much known about CDK13 at the time. Today, nearly 300 cases have been identified globally. For now, Jaxon’s parents treat each symptom as it arises. He struggles with tasks requiring the use of his hands and motor skills, and his ADHD and moderate autism made everyday life and academic tasks challenging. And yet, he continues to make remarkable progress in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Jaxon’s resilience and carefree, fun personality positively inspires all the lives he touches.

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals support the clinical institutes and personalized care that allow Jaxon to make remarkable progress on his journey.