33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

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 UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA.

Isabelle (Belle) was adopted from China when she was 19 months old. Her parents knew she had a potentially devastating blood disorder called thalassemia, but they were comforted that a top ten children’s hospital would be waiting for them when they got home. Doctors at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh began treatment right away. Since she had beta thalassemia major, the most severe form of thalassemia, Belle had a mediport placed and began a routine of ongoing blood transfusions. To mitigate the risk of an iron overload, which could affect her liver and heart, she takes two medications every morning and every evening. Today, Belle is a happy 12-year-old who loves her hospital days because she gets to bring her two favorite stuffed animals, play Uno, and do arts and crafts with her favorite Child Life specialists. She loves having sushi for lunch in the hospital cafeteria. Belle is a cheerleader and a runner. She has joined band and choir at school.

On the days Belle returns to the hospital, the services provided through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals help her spend time creatively.

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.