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 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA.

Porter was born with Down syndrome at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where the care team helped his family understand the medical, cognitive, and social complexities to ensure he could have the best quality of life. From the beginning, specialists provided education through their Trisomy 21 Symposiums, which helped Porter’s family build a support network of other families going through similar experiences. During the medical procedures and hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses, Porter’s family was grateful for the opportunity to participate in a few clinical trials through CHOP, helping to build a body of research that will pave a positive future for other individuals with intellectual disabilities. “Porter is thriving today because we’ve got a team that sees him as a person with a bright future,” his mom says, adding that “the team at CHOP has always been by our side.” Now 12 years old, Porter plays drums in the school band. He loves horseback riding, baseball, Tae Kwon Do, and Special Olympics swimming.

Thanks to the support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Porter and his family received incredible care and support, including music and art therapy.

Treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, RI/New Bedford, MA.

At 18 weeks gestation, London’s parents wanted to find out their baby’s gender. A high-level ultrasound soon confirmed that their baby was a girl--and that she would be born with spina bifida. Her parents did everything they could to learn about the diagnosis in preparation. Dr. Petra Klinge, a neurosurgeon at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, not only reassured them, but she also gave them hope. The day after London was born, Dr. Klinge performed an intricate eight-hour surgery to close the skin and spinal cord on the tiny newborn’s spine. When London was still not walking at 18 months, early intervention specialists advised her parents to consider leg braces and a walker, but instead they turned to Hasbro’s Pediatric Rehabilitation team and continued physical therapy. Just after turning two years old, London got up and walked across the room for the first time on her own. Now nine years old, London loves to dance and play soccer, and she is training for a Black Belt. She continues to amaze everyone with her vibrant smile and personality.

Donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helped London get the support of her local pediatric rehabilitation program.