MEET THE 2022 PATIENT CHAMPIONS FROM LURIE CHILDREN’S

Every year, Lurie Children’s is proud to highlight stories of hope and resilience through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champions program. This year is no exception, as the stories of Miles, Aggie, Devin, Bailey, and Mya inspire us to continue supporting the mission of Lurie Children’s.

Each family’s journey is a testament to the incredible work happening every day within the walls of Lurie Children’s. These five families are just a few of the 220,000 families who receive life changing care at our hospital and outpatient clinics each year. Learn more about our 2022 patient champion families below.

Meet Miles from Crystal Lake, Illinois

When Miles was a baby, doctors at Lurie Children’s told his parents, Ashley and Ryan, that their son would need a kidney and liver transplant to treat a rare condition known as primary hyperoxaluria type 1. After many months of dialysis, Miles received a liver transplant. A year later, a lucky call for help on social media resulted in a kidney donation from one of Ryan’s high school classmates. “At the time, Ryan was going through stage 4 cancer treatment,” Ashley said. “Lurie Children’s meant my husband got to see his child get his transplants before he passed. That was a huge gift.” Today, Miles is a happy, resilient, brave seven-year-old who continues to thrive.  

Meet Mya from Belvidere, Illinois

As a newborn baby, Mya was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to be misshapen and prevent blood from flowing throughout the body as it should. Throughout her childhood, she has been cared for by the Sickle Cell Disease Program team at Lurie Children’s, who provide world-class care and education to keep Mya healthy, strong and involved in her treatment. “After all my experiences at the hospital, I learned about sickle cell, and I got to understand it,” Mya said. “If you have sickle cell disease, you should be proud of yourself. When you have sickle cell times can be hard. You should believe in yourself.”  

Meet Devin from Darien, Illinois

Devin is a spunky, fun-loving 12-year-old with energy and personality in spades. He has lots of reasons to smile – one being that his parents, Lisa and Maurice, consider him a miracle. Born three months premature, Devin was diagnosed with a serious intestinal disease that doctors expected would only allow him to live a few days. He quickly began defying the odds under the care of a world-class team at Lurie Children’s. Surgeons, doctors and nurses who specialize in intestinal disorders at Lurie Children’s keep Devin strong and healthy while he waits for a small bowel transplant. “He has a bright future ahead,” Maurice said. 

Meet Bailey from Munster, Indiana

Bailey began overcoming the odds before she was even born. While in-utero, she was diagnosed with a complete fetal heart block, a severely dangerous interruption between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. She was also diagnosed with neonatal lupus. At just one day old, she began a series of five heart surgeries and spent her first three years in and out of the hospital, gradually gaining more strength and independence. Now an active, healthy 14-year-old, Bailey enjoys competitive swim and cross country, riding her bike, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs and Bears. “Bailey went from a tiny, sick frail baby to a teenager, thanks to Lurie Children’s Hospital,” said her mom, Megan. “She truly lives each day to the fullest.”  

Meet Aggie from Bartlett, Illinois

Aggie is a lifelong patient of Lurie Children’s, having had her first spina bifida surgery at just one day old. Today, she visits the Spina Bifida Clinic every few months for a day full of testing and appointments while attending regular therapy sessions. Now six years old, Aggie is fully mobile with a walker and gaining more independence, impressing her parents and care team with her progress. With the support and expertise of the multidisciplinary team at Lurie Children’s Spina Bifida Center, Aggie’s parents are confident their daughter can reach her fullest potential. “Walking into Lurie Children’s provides us confidence and serenity as we know Aggie will receive the highest level of care there,” Becky said. “It is the most miraculous place in the world, and we are so fortunate to live so close.”