iracles from Mia Recipients:

2010

Ashley:

Ashley is a three-year old who was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor in 2008, shortly after her second birthday. At the time of her diagnosis, the tumor was sitting on her lung and wrapped around her spinal cord. Rhabdoid tumors are very rare but also aggressive and her odds of surviving until her third birthday were only 5-7% . She has been undergoing treatment since then and has fought hard to beat this terrible disease.

Sean:

Sean is a two-year old who was born with several health issues. Within his first year of life he was diagnosed with seizures and cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments as well as an overall developmental delay. Shortly after turning one, he was diagnosed with Chromosome 18q-, an abnormality in which part of Chromosome 18 is missing. Little is known about this abnormality so Sean's future is unknown. He sees 17 doctors and attends many weekly therapies. His fight to just be a kid is a day to day struggle.

Jackson:

Jackson was born on September 14, 2009.He was born with Pierre Robin Sequence. His jaw born was underdeveloped, and his tongue is tethered to the bottom of his mouth. He was given a tracheotomy to breath and several attempts at feeding tubes, also finding two hernias that had to be repaired. He is unable to suck and cannot tolerate anything in his stomach, a new feeding tube was just put in. It is suspected that he has a cleft palate and he has failed all hearing tests. He spent 89 days in the NICU at Central Dupage Hospital after he was born and has had 3 major surgeries to date. There will be many more, He has had a metal rod put in his jaw that his parents had to tighten on both sides 3 times a day to help bring his jaw forward, in that surgery his jaw was broken to correct it. It is unknown the outcome of Jackson’s health, he is simply too young to tell and there is no one to compare him too..

Past Recipients
Joseph:

Joey is a three-year-old who was born three months premature with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He had been receiving physical, occupational, developmental, aquatic and speech therapy through the state. However, these services ended once he turned three. Joey needs to continue these services if he has any chance of avoiding a wheel chair for the rest of his life. Joey has made significant progress thus far but still has long journey ahead of him.

Paris:

Paris is a one-year-old who was born with Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that affects children. The cells affected are in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. These cells control thinking, sensation and movement. Paris has undergone several surgeries as well as chemo and radiation therapy. She continues to fight to become cancer-free.Website

Mark:

Mark is 14 years old and was recently treated for cancer for the third time. After thinking he was cured in 1999 and again in 2003-04, the cancer reoccurred in late 2007 and his treatment had to start all over again. He had to undergo a bone-marrow transplant and was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Currently, he is being treated for graft vs host disease and fighting a lingering BK virus. He is still trying to attend school, but is only able to do so on a part-time basis.

Andrew:

Andrew is a six-year old diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease. This disease prevents his cells from producing energy. He also suffers from lactic acidosis, which is extremely painful, causes severe dehydration and muscle fatigue, and can be fatal. He sleeps with a C-PAP machine to keep his airways clear and has a feeding pump to ensure that he gets the proper nutrition. Despite his lack of energy, Andrew loves to play ball and has a love for music.

Mason:

Mason was born three months premature and weighed only 2 pounds. While he was in the hospital, he contracted the E-Coli virus which attacked his foot, ankle, leg, knee and hip. Amputation was his only chance at survival and he now is learning to walk with the use of a walker and a prosthetic leg. He has undergone many surgeries to help repair the damage to his leg, and also for blindness. He will continue to undergo surgery as he grows and his future holds much rehabilitation and nursing. Despite his setbacks, Mason is an energetic five-year old with a personality that inspires all. Website

Mckenna:

McKenna was born with a rare chromosome disorder as well as Lissencephaly, which causes mental retardation and poor motor control similar to that of cerebral palsy. McKenna is also blind and requires a feeding tube and oxygen to survive. Since her conditions are so rare, doctors are unsure what her future holds. It is a true miracle that she has made it to her first birthday, and hopefully there will be many more to come.Website