33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

Treated at Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, CA.

Davey Jean was born with a rare genetic disorder called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q) and was faced with many 22q-related anomalies including congenital heart defects, cleft palate, developmental and speech delays, etc. At 30 weeks in utero, she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a compilation of four heart defects, and required open-heart surgery soon after her birth. By the time she was three years old, she was still non-verbal and used American Sign Language to communicate. Her parents learned that she had conductive hearing loss and would need ear surgery to help drain the fluid causing it. Davey Jean also went through two complex surgeries for her Atypical Submucosal Cleft Palate, which made it nearly impossible for her to form sounds and words. The ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department at Valley Children’s, along with the plastic surgery, audiology and speech therapy teams, all joined in an effort to help with Davey Jean’s hearing issues and speech delays. Today, she is able to communicate using words. Now ten years old, Davey Jean has already undergone five surgeries at Valley Children’s. She continues to see multiple specialists at Valley Children’s, as well as physical and occupational therapy. She is very active and enjoys playing with her friends and doing gymnastics. She loves going to the park and playing with her toys and her dog, Tater Tot.

Thanks to support from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Davey Jean has been able to get the surgeries and critical care she needed.

Treated at Corewell Health Children's in Detroit, MI.

Ages 12 & 10

Braylen was born weighing two pounds and one ounce. Since he was a premature baby, by the time he turned three, he was diagnosed with severe receptive and expressive language delay. His communication difficulties made it hard for him to connect with his peers. Braylen began receiving speech therapy through Corewell Health Children’s and was enrolled in the RE/MAX Communication Preschool Program to learn in a school-based environment where children are free of judgment. Through various therapies and the preschool curriculum, Braylen gradually began finding his voice and expanding his ability to connect with others. His mom says, “the greatest joy is that he is now able to better communicate not only with family but his peers. Each step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to his determination and unwavering spirit.”

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helped Braylen receive the therapy he needed to communicate with his peers and family.

Rylee lights up a room with her radiant energy. At four years old, she was diagnosed with severe mixed receptive and expressive language disorder and started receiving speech services at Corewell Health Children’s RE/MAX Communication Preschool Program. Despite her struggles with language, Rylee’s intelligence shines through. With the support of her family, speech therapists, preschool educators, and her Corewell Health Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals team, Rylee made remarkable strides in overcoming the challenges posed by her language disorder. Today, Rylee’s keen sense of creativity and ability to think outside the box matches her determination and strong spirit. She understands firsthand the frustrations of struggling to be heard and understood, and thus, she has become a fierce advocate not only for her own needs but for others as well.

Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Rylee is able to use her words to communicate and advocate for others with shared experiences.

Treated at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento, CA.

Isaac was a healthy baby, but as a toddler, he became lethargic and stopped eating. His low energy and recurring fevers meant multiple trips to the doctor’s office with no answers. When his skin became pale in November 2016, Isaac’s mom advocated for a blood test despite being told it was likely a virus. The staff ran a Complete Blood Count. That afternoon, a nurse practitioner called and told Isaac’s mom to pack a bag and take him to UC Davis Children’s Hospital. The family got the official diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Isaac’s treatment began right away. He spent his second birthday at the hospital and his cancer treatment continued for years at the pediatric infusion center at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy programs like music therapy and interactions with the facility dog made the treatment much more tolerable. Today, Isaac remains cancer-free and loves to play football, watch sports and go to the ocean.

Thanks to support from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Isaac was able to receive customized cancer treatments so he could live a healthy life in remission.