33^rd Annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner

Treated at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, CA.

A soccer super fan, Landon played whenever he could and scored seven goals in just one game. Things took a turn when eight-year-old Landon couldn’t run the length of the field without losing his breath. He was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital, where it was discovered he had a mass that spanned his entire chest, collapsing his lung and putting pressure on his heart and kidneys. Landon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the stage 4 cancer had spread throughout his body. He faced a host of challenging procedures, including draining fluids from his lungs, a chest tube installation, a pic line installation, a bone marrow aspiration, and a lumbar puncture. Due to the severity of his condition, Landon could not be put under anesthesia, intensifying how excruciating these procedures were for Landon and his family. Luckily, the Child Life and Parent Liaison teams stepped in to provide peace and comfort to his family when they needed it most. Landon’s initial diagnosis came in the fall of 2020, which meant that he spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year in the hospital, under strict isolation protocol. After three long years of hospital stays and frequent visits, Landon had his port removed and plans to finish his treatment with the use of an IV. This year, he will conclude his cancer treatment, and get to return to the sports and activities he loves.

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals supported Landon and his family with Child Life and Parent Liaison programs to offer comfort as he battled cancer.

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.

Treated at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, OR.

Ages 12 & 10

Madison (Maddie) has only known life with cystic fibrosis. A few days after she was born, she was transferred to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for a bowel obstruction. After undergoing the procedure, she stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for 30 days. Two years later, Maddie’s little brother, Max, was also diagnosed with a bowel obstruction. His parents knew to go to the NICU at Doernbecher where his sister received care. Max’s severe bowel obstruction and jejunoileal atresia led to his diagnosis of cystic fibrosis too. As Maddie grew up, her condition began affecting her liver, and when she was 10, she was diagnosed with CF-associated liver disease. While their parents wouldn’t wish the diagnosis on either of their children, they see how Maddie and Max support each other on their shared health journeys. Maddie, now 12, loves art, playing golf and wants to be a veterinarian. 10-year-old Max is an all-star baseball player and his favorite position is shortstop. Maddie and Max continue to lean on one another as they manage their condition and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.

Thanks to the support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Maddie and Max received quality care during their stay in the NICU at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.