Tobias Geselevich – ALL Leukemia
Toby was 2 and a half years old when he stopped eating, drinking and pretty much moving. We had to carry him every where. We thought it was just a virus but when it didn’t go away or get better we took him in. Our doctor knew right away to do a blood test and had an idea of what it was. We were rushed to childrens hospital where our lives changed in the blink of an eye. We found out that Toby had Acute Lymphblastic Leukemia and he was 98% leukemic cells. We spent the next few months in and out of the hospital and the next few years pumping poison into our baby, but it was all worth it. He is doing wonderful 4 years post treatment. Healthy, Strong, loving and amazing.
- Published in Miracle Children
Jayden Bertrand – ALL Leukemia
- Published in Miracle Children
Grace Carrillo – ALL Leukemia
A young girl that thought her life was pretty average suddenly fell ill at 12 years old with Acute Lymphoblastic Luekemia. But because of her age, it was life threatening and success of treatment was questionable. She was a singer since the age of 7, a dancer, she favors the arts. Her treatments were tough on her body, for chemo treatment is rough for anyone. Then the day of treatments coming to an end had come, june 17, 2014. Since then, I, Grace Carrillo am now 16 and have been in remission.
- Published in Miracle Children
Simon Wright – Aplastic Anemia
Simon was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia one month before his 11th birthday. He later developed PNH and recieved a bone marrow transplant at 13. 11.5 months later, he developed Evan’s Syndrome. It was a long journey, but he is now 7.5 years out from original diagnosis, 5 years out from transplant, and 4 years out from the ES diagnosis. He is off all medications and living a “normal” life! We are truly blessed.
- Published in Miracle Children
Gabriella Kovach – ALL Leukemia
On July 26, 2016 I took Gabriella to the doctors because she started to get these unusual bruises on her body. Little did we know our lives would never be the same. We were told to go straight to Children’s Hospital and it was there she was diagnosed with Pre B ALL Leukemia with iAMP21 gene. Due to her iAMP21 gene she is considered high risk. Gabriella is a very cheerful young girl with a heart of gold! She captures everyone she meets with her spunky attitude. She is full of zest even with her diagnoses.!we are excited to meet other people on the same journey! Here is more about Gabs https://www.gofundme.com/2j3q6pg
- Published in Miracle Children
Arvin Nguyen – ALL Leukemia
Diagnosed at 2 months old, Arvin has been a hero to us. He is such a strong boy with a strong spirit. He smiles through his treatment; enlightens our darkest days.
- Published in Miracle Children
Rylee Sweet – Neuroblastoma
We were noticing strange things that were going on with Rylee for several months, having issues going to the bathroom, squirming around, seeming uncomfortable, and at times she was inconsolable with no apparent reason,each time we took her to the doctor they said it was constipation. Until finally one week before Rylee’s first birthday we took her into Children’s Urgent care where they performed a scan on her abdomen, and that is when our entire lives changed. They sent us down to Children’s Hospital to have a more in-depth scan performed to be sure of what they saw, and we were told that Rylee had Cancer (Neuroblastoma). From that point nothing was or will ever be the same for anyone in our family. Rylee spent the next year and a half fighting for her life with no known cure for her disease; she went though many long surgeries, chemo, radiation, ports being put in, ports being removed, poking, prodding, and living behind hospital walls for the most part, but come March of 2014 her tiny body just could not fight anymore and we lost her. Our entire world was shook to the core. Rylee has two little brothers, one of which will not remember the time her spent with his sissy bear and the other who will never know her in this lifetime. The amount of love and lessons she shared with the world will never be forgotten but neither will the pain of her leaving. Thank you for what you do!
- Published in Miracle Children
Ashlynn Fitts – ALL Leukemia
Ashlynn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B Cell ALL) in December of 2014 at the age of 5. She is still in treatment until April 2017. Ashlynn is a fighter and she keeps Plowin On!! One minute she was practicing for her Christmas program at school and the next she was on an ambulance to Denver from Nebraska. Ashlynn is our true hero.
- Published in Miracle Children
Jilian Golz – B-Cell Lymphoma
JIlian was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Stage 3 on June 26,2016, while our family was on vacation. We were in Chicago visiting family and friends when she fell ill, taking her to the ER we learned her diagnoses 8 hours later and 1,000 miles away from home. Our family of 5 and dog remained in Chicago for 4 months living between The Ronald McDonald House, hotels and families couches while she was in the hospital for 101 days going through major surgery,bone marrow biopsies, 5 chemotherapy treatments, and countless other setbacks,side effects, exams and tests. When she was finally stable enough to travel, 9/25/16, we made the trip back to Colorado and resumed care with The Children’s Hospital and completed another 2 rounds of chemotherapy. She was declared in remission Dec 1,2016!
- Published in Miracle Children
Ayla Charness – ITP
Ayla was diagnosed in 2004, at 3-1/2, with ITP. This is a life threatening blood disorder where her own body (the antibodies to be exact), attacks her own platelets. This leaves her with about 3,000 platelets (the normal range is 150,000 to 450,000), which means that when she bleeds, nothing will stop it. She has had hundreds of hospital stays, 5 trips to the PICU and has almost bled to death and died 5 times. She has had literally hundreds of treatments, almost 400 blood draws, finger pokes and IV’s, had her spleen removed, and has led her life, for the most part, fearing for her life whenever she started to bleed (a bad bloody nose could easily last 15 hours). She does not know a life without hospitals, doctor’s and waking up with tubes coming out of her. I could go on and on and on as to what she has dealt with over the last 12-1/2 years. She is the bravest, warrior princess I have ever known (says the proud Dad). In spite of this, she is going to be a junior in high school, has a 4.13 (only 1 B in 2 years), is an accomplished pianist and violinist (she has never been able to play sports), sits in the top community symphony as a Violin I, spent a year as the Children’s Hospital Ambassador, a year as the Children’s Miracle Network Colorado Champion and is currently the President of YAC (Youth Advisory Council) at Children’s Hospital. Stuff like this make her feel special so we love being a part of it.
- Published in Miracle Children
Isabella Esparsen – ALL Leukemia
We believe that all things happen for a purpose by Jesus Christ. He will bring us through and out of this tribulation. Our story is pretty simple… Isabella at 11 years old was diagnosed with Leukemia on July 6th, 2016. Leukemia’s side effects are complicated; however, our strong faith in Jesus Christ gives Isabella strength everyday to fight against it. She’s a warrior fighting to get back her life as it once was. Treatment is a long haul of 2.5 years but nothing is promised tomorrow so that is why we give God all the glory, live for today and enjoy all the little things in life.
- Published in Miracle Children
Ashton Eske – Diamond Blackfan Anemia
- Published in Miracle Children
Lorelai Kinzer – Craniopharyngioma
Lorelai was 10 when she started having trouble in school. She wasn’t hungry, so didn’t each much. She got headaches every afternoon – so bad that she couldn’t stay at school. She was so tired, she’d nap in the afternoon for two hours, and still go to bed at 6:00 p.m. We worked with teachers to address issues at school, we changed her diet, we encouraged exercise. Nothing worked. The doctors kept saying she was fine. So, deciding she must get migraines or can’t see well, we took her to the eye doctor. He found that she had a vision block in both eyes – she couldn’t see anything to the right of her peripherally. How did we not know this? He sent us for an MRI. Within minutes of the exam, they had us on the phone with an oncologist. WHAT?! They told us she had a brain tumor and we were scheduled to meet with the neuro-oncologist at 9:00 a.m. the next morning. Craniopharyngioma is very rare. Lucky us. Lorelai had brain surgery in May 2016, and radiation all summer. While we have been told that this is a lifelong battle for her, the tumor is incurable and not removable, as of today, the tumor is finally shrinking. Her hypothalamus is all but destroyed – her body doesn’t produce hormones properly if at all. But, we take everything one day at a time. And, we are so grateful for all the people we have met that help us remember that we are not alone. Everyone we meet, through Shining Stars, HopeKids, Make-a-Wish, and now Miracle Party, remind us that we have it pretty good and help us through our bad days. Support is everything! Lorelai is here with us and we plan to have her here for a long time to come.
- Published in Miracle Children
Christian Barker – Leukemia ** Angel **
Christian was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia the day after his 13th birthday. His treatment included 2 bone marrow transplants, 3 relapses, almost 17 months inpatient, radiation, lots of chemo and transfusions, surgeries, and liver failure caused by Graft vs Host Disease. He fought for his life like a warrior even though his battle was extreme. Words can’t convey how proud of Christian we are for battling cancer with everything he had until he took his last breath on December 29, 2007. We want Christian to be remembered not for his cancer or battle, but for the inspiring character he displayed in spite of his disease. He was kind, compassionate, humble, humorous, loving, respectful, determined, and had a strong faith in God. We miss him so much and always will, but we know he is happy and healthy in heaven. We thank God for Christian’s short but extremely impactful life! His legacy lives on through family, friends, and the foundation that was started because of him.
- Published in Miracle Children
Ahna Novasio – ALL Leukemia
In November 2015, Ahna had swelling and pain in her throat and neck and was prescribed antibiotics. 2 weeks later, she was getting worse, so I took her back to the walk-in clinic, and, after a neck xray, was told to head immediately to the er, where she had a ct scan, which revealed a large mass threatening to obstruct her airway. That evening, in total shock, she and I were rushed on a medflight from our home in Billings, MT, to the ICU at Children’s Hospital CO, where she was diagnosed and began treatment within hours of our arrival. We spent a month there beginning her chemo and family joined us for Christmas at the Ronald McDonald House. She also had 2 weeks of intracranial radiation as a preventative measure. At the beginning of April, we were once again medflighted to Aurora, as she was incredibly sick from the chemo. Within 5 days, she was all patched up and we were released to the Ronald McDonald House. At that time, I elected to stay in Denver to complete her toughest treatments because of the superior care. We remained there until the following September, and her 2 brothers and 2 cats were able to join us for the summer. 1 year after her cancer diagnosis, she was diagnosed with stage 3 avascular necrosis, a rare side effect from prednisone, in both shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet, for which she is treated by the excellent pain management and orthopedics doctors in Aurora. Someday she will need joint replacements, but meanwhile, she does alot of swimming and troops along, being the awesome fighter that she is! I’ve lost count how many times we’ve now driven the 8 hours from Billings to Denver, but it is well worth it and is like a 2nd home for us! Thankfully, Ahna remains in remission from her leukemia and is in maintenance therapy until 3/28/18. 🙂
- Published in Miracle Children
Jaxon Laurita – Hepatoblatoma
Jaxon is our miracle child. Born at 23 weeks weighing 1lb 5oz. Jaxon was trach, ventilator dependent and Gtube fed at 6months old. When he was 14months old he was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma. Jaxon went through Chemo therapy and had 75% of his liver resectioned. Jaxon is cancer free and is 6 years old now. Happy to be alive.
- Published in Miracle Children
Alidiah Simpson – DIPG
My daughter was dignosed with dipg on June 5 from there we was flew to Memphis to St Jude’s she had scans and then from there we was transferred again. She had two brain surgeries and then we started radiation she did 30 rounds of it .she is fighting so hard and been such a trooper I am so proud of her she starts chemo on Sept the 5 she has had symptoms slurr speech sometimes off balance and a little weakness on right side but we are keeping our faith and praying every day to beat this ..
- Published in Miracle Children
Taylor Boyle – Pre B ALL **ANGEL**
Taylor was diagnosed with Pre-B ALL at 11 days old. She is turning 10 months old tomorrow and fighting hard.
- Published in Miracle Children
Matthew Murray – Germinoma
Then high school freshman, Matthew was diagnosed with Germinoma in April, 2014. He endured a very aggressive 6 months of treatment which included chemotherapy followed by 5 weeks of daily radiation. He’s gone thru 2 surgeries to repair his double vision caused by the brain tumor.
Despite this life altering experience, Matthew graduated with Honors and in the top 4% of his graduating class from Westminster High School this May.
He will be attending UNC Greeley.
- Published in Miracle Children
Alex Alcaraz – ALL Leukemia
Alex was diagnosed at the age of five. He will be ten years old on September 28th. Sadly after being 1 year out from bone marrow transplant he relapsed. He is on a waiting list to revive CART cell therapy in Pennsylvania.
- Published in Miracle Children
Henry Heckenberg – Hemolytic Anemia
We had quite the journey. Henry was brought into the hospital showing signs of jaundice and fatigue four days before his second birthday. We were whisked away to ICU and encountered a 30 day hospital stay, where there were several running diagnosis. Henry had 14 blood transfusions and it was discovered he has a very rare IgA antibody that was destroying his red blood cells. Henry showed signs of kidney failure and was not responding to the majority of treatments. He has a diagnosis of Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia. Doctors feel this is a chronic genetic condition, but we have yet to discover the genes that are “bad”. He was treated with a variety of treatments, but at the moment the Rituximab seems to be controlling the IgA antibody.
- Published in Miracle Children
J’shaun Felder – Sickel Cell
Well j’shaun is my wonderful little boy who has the sickel cell trait from me and hemoglobin c trait from his dad, his compassion for other people is out of this world he is a great big brother and little brother as well he takes every battle that his sickel cell brings him like a champ, he loves sports even though some he can’t play he never let’s anything stop him each day has some struggle’s but we all pull together being a single mom is really hard at times especially with all that he needs from me but I make it work for him everyday
- Published in Miracle Children
Alexander Erwin – Lymphoma
On December 3, 2012, we received a diagnosis that no parent ever wants to hear. After numerous doctor visits, biopsies and scans we were told that our eleven year old son Alexander had Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and that he would need to begin chemotherapy right away. The month of December was a blur filled with induction, needles and spinal taps. The following months were filled with hair loss, neutropenia, neuropathy, missed school and mountains of pills. Through it all, Alexander was brave always doing whatever needed to be done in order to get better and his brother Michael was also a trooper. We are so blessed that Alexander is now in remission and we are so excited to attend Miracle Party to celebrate! Thank you so much for providing this wonderful opportunity for miracle children and their families.
- Published in Miracle Children
Pierce Bimson – ALL Leukemia
Pierce was diagnosed when he was 18-months-old, and was on treatment until just before he turned 5. We were living in Texas at the time, and really didn’t know anyone. Our family lived in Florida and the Midwest. A little over a year into treatment, we moved to Minneapolis to be closer to family, and then moved to Colorado when the extended cold became too much for his body to handle. My husband and I met, married, and had our daughter in Colorado years ago, so this is coming home for our family. Pierce is now 5 years off-treatment, and we are thrilled to be able to raise a healthy family in our favorite place to live!
- Published in Miracle Children
Zoe Solís-Ochoa – ALL Leukemia
Zoe was sick two months before her diagnosis leaving her unable to walk talk or eat. She suffered very much and almost lost her life before her diagnosis in April of 2015 at two years old. When Zoe was finally admitted for her conditions she had the lowest blood cell count the doctors had ever seen. She fought long and hard for two and a half years defeating the odds many times. She is now five years old and just started kindergarten. She is and always will be our hero!
- Published in Miracle Children
Amy Fink – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Amy was diagnosed in September 2014. She had 6 months of therapy, but cancer returned. She had a stem cell transplant in November, and radiation. She is still in treatment, but worked full time this summer as a lifeguard and swim coach .She is a positive teen that runs an Instagram about nail art with thousands of followers.Amy loves music and attends concerts whenever she is well enough! Amy lives a fun and adventurous life, despite her medical diagnosis.
- Published in Miracle Children
Hayliegh Fitzsimmons
My name is carlotta I am the mother oh Hayliegh and my husband is Trevor! Shortly after our 11 yr old daughter was involved in an atv accident with 2 broken extremities, our youngest daughter 3yr old Hayliegh was diagnosed with an ependymoma brain tumor! Every parents worse nightmare had just became our reality!
- Published in Miracle Children