33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

Treated at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX.

Less than two weeks after Molly started experiencing numbness in her face, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancer that forms in bone or soft tissue. Molly underwent brain surgery to remove the tumor and has recently finished chemotherapy. Molly’s dad said that while he could never have imagined hearing the word cancer, he finds comfort in knowing how much the hospital staff cares for his daughter. “Cook Children’s is a big part of this new life that we have to live while we get through this season,” he said. “It’s not just us fighting this fight. While the journey hasn’t been easy, Molly has worked to express any fears and concerns with the support of Child Life specialists.”

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helps families like Molly’s with support during her hospital stays and preparation for care at home.

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

Before Emerson (Emme) was born at 25 weeks, she and her twin sister, Elle, were given a 10-15% chance of survival. At Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Emme had her first brain surgery at 21 days old. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy, and she recently underwent seven brain surgeries including a right lobe hemispherectomy to help with seizures and motor function. Despite her long, tough journey, Emme continues to conquer every challenge that comes her way. She has found comfort in the music therapy program, where loves singing the Beluga song with her music therapist.

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fund the music therapy program that offers Emme comfort throughout her medical journey.

Elle was born prematurely at 25 weeks gestation, with a brain bleed that caused hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities of her brain. Elle and her twin sister, Emme, were both given a 10-15% chance of survival. Elle spent 106 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with her sister. Elle benefited from the power of play by working closely with Child Life specialists and she loved the special NICU teddy bears, the mobiles, and the play pads. Today, Elle loves dancing, playing, and being her sister Emme’s number one supporter.

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals supported Elle and her family by generously covering the treatment not covered by insurance.

Treated at Dayton Children’s Hospital in Dayton, OH.

At the age of three, Carah was diagnosed with childhood-onset fluency disorder (also known as stuttering). While most children outgrow a stutter by the age of 5, Carah did not. In 6th grade, a substitute teacher mocked her in class, leaving Carah spiraling with her self-esteem and confidence plummeting. She mentally and emotionally struggled and didn’t want to go to school. Carah saw countless speech therapists over the years but never felt there was a right fit as the focus was placed on her speech fluency and less on the deep, lingering emotional trauma she was experiencing. That changed when Carah turned to Dayton Children’s Speech Therapy Program. “...from the time we walked through those speech therapy doors, they took the time to actually talk with Carah and dug deeper to the parts that people can’t see. And helped Carah in learning tools and techniques to navigate those feelings and mental roadblocks,” her mom said. Carah will always have a stutter; however, she’s learned that her condition does not steal the power of her own voice. One way she’s doing that is by educating her former middle school by giving a keynote speech every year, now part of her school’s curriculum, about stuttering, understanding yourself and your feelings, and bullying. “Stuttering is a part of me, but it doesn’t define me. I have a lot of goals set for the future and I’m just getting started,” Carah said.

Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Carah received life-changing support from Dayton Children’s Speech Therapy Program, helping her self-esteem grow as she navigates Child Onset Fluency Disorder.