She was only a toddler when it all began but at the tender age of 5, Jalaysha is already a strong, vibrant cancer survivor.

When she was 2, Jalaysha was diagnosed with an unusual type of ganglioneuroblastoma. In most cases neuroblastoma pushes the body’s central organs out of the way as it forms. In Jalaysha’s case, the cancer grafted itself onto her liver, her kidney and her aorta. She underwent three complex surgeries—each more than seven hours long—to remove the operable portions of the tumors. Because of its location, the remaining tumor on her aorta cannot be removed and must be monitored closely throughout her life. Jalaysha also bravely endured difficult chemotherapy treatments that spanned two years.

These days Jalaysha has more time to play with friends, have fun at school and watch her favorite Disney shows. She plans to become a cheerleader someday, a perfect fit for her sunny personality.

When Paige was admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy in 2010, it wasn’t her first hospital stay—she spent weeks in neonatal intensive care when she was born—but it was her hardest stay.

Paige, then 9, had a ruptured and severely abscessed appendix that required emergency surgery. During her recovery she faced one setback after another. A second abscess developed in her abdomen, requiring another surgery to remove it. She had swelling in her intestines that prevented her from digesting food or water, so she couldn’t eat or drink for nearly three weeks. She struggled with a stomach tube and vomiting. And, to make matters worse, Paige’s surgical incision did not heal properly. It had to be reopened and treated before it was closed again. She spent more than three weeks at the hospital, but Paige never complained.

Now fully recovered, Paige is a sweet, sensitive, straight-A student. She loves to dance jazz and ballet, sing in her school choir and write short stories.

If you’re looking for adventure, just spend a few minutes with 13-year-old Jacob. He has peered over the edge of the Grand Canyon, taken in the striking view atop Seattle’s Space Needle, and witnessed Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser shoot for the sky. Traveling with his own entourage, complete with high-tech wheelchair and medical equipment, hasn’t slowed Jacob down. He’s whizzed down alpine slides, basked on sunny beaches, fished in mountain streams, and has never met a roller coaster he didn’t like.

Jacob’s passion for life has helped him prevail through a lifetime of medical challenges associated with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The day he was born Jacob had his first two surgeries. Now, 13 years later, he has been to the operating room more than 50 times—and will likely be back again. To monitor his ongoing medical issues, he has a whole team of doctors including a neurologist, urologist and pulmonologist.

When he isn’t on a family road trip, Jacob loves to challenge his friends to Wii games, whip up the latest Food Network recipe, and play flag football with his buddies at school.

Haven has a smile that can light up a room. For Haven’s parents, a day never goes by without feeling profoundly grateful for that smile.

Within hours of her birth, Haven was rushed from the hospital where she was born to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. There she was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis, a congenital heart defect. In simple terms, the artery that connects Haven’s heart to her lungs was almost completely closed. She also had a valve in her heart that did not close properly. To repair the defects, Haven underwent two heart procedures in her first 11 days of life.

Both surgeries were successful, but at 12 days old Haven’s tiny body suddenly began to shut down. For 58 agonizing minutes, caregivers performed CPR to keep her alive. Once stabilized, she was placed on ECMO, a heart-lung bypass machine that gave her body time to rest and heal.

Today Haven is making progress overcoming speech and motor skill delays with the help of ongoing therapy. Most importantly, she is a happy 5-year-old with a heart that works just as it should.

Parmina’s grandmother, Pauline, is actually grateful for the H1N1 flu virus. Without it she would not have taken her granddaughter to the hospital, where a chest X-ray revealed something shocking—Parmina had cancer.

She was diagnosed with a mediastinal embryonal germ cell tumor attached to her thymus, a small organ that sits just above the heart and is part of the body’s immune system. Rarely found in children, this type of cancer occurs most often in older men.

Doctors began chemotherapy immediately, followed by surgery to remove the tumor. The treatments were successful, but Parmina’s challenges didn’t end there. Side effects of her lifesaving treatment include some permanent hearing loss, lung damage, cognitive difficulties and potential kidney problems.

Despite life’s challenges, Parmina is an irrepressible optimist. Now 11, she takes good care of her two younger sisters with special needs, and she loves to perform magic, especially for kids in the hospital.

When Ayla was 3 years old, a minor accident on the playground resulted in severe dark bruises on her legs. When her worried parents took her to the doctor, the test results turned their world upside down. 

Ayla was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a disease that affects the body’s ability to clot blood and stop bleeding. The disease made Ayla’s body unable to control even the smallest cut or bruise—a frightening scenario for an active toddler. Although 90 percent of childhood ITP cases clear up within a year, Ayla’s did not. Her ITP is chronic, necessitating numerous blood transfusions, frequent hospital visits and even a splenectomy.

A few months after her diagnosis, Ayla’s family moved to Denver, Colo., so she could receive ongoing care at The Children’s Hospital. “At our first appointment, we knew we had found the right place,” said Ayla’s father, Jay.

Now 10, Ayla is mature, empathetic and patient with the challenges of her disease. She plays the piano and violin, and loves to swim and dance.

Anyone who knows Marcquille has shared a good laugh with him. He has a knack for finding the humor in just about anything, and he never gets tired of making people laugh.

Marcquille’s upbeat spirit isn’t dimmed by his ongoing battle with a chronic, life-threatening disease. In spite of severe pain episodes caused by sickle cell disease, Marcquille is an incredibly accomplished young man. He was elected junior class president, starred in a local production of “A Raisin in the Sun,” and received a leadership award from the Board of Education. When he isn’t hanging out with friends or playing video games, Marcquille also finds time to sing in multiple choirs, play the piano, take advanced placement high school courses and run on the track team.

He is candid about his disease and devoted to educating others about sickle cell, from addressing Connecticut’s legislature to sharing his story with his peers. Wherever he is and whatever he’s doing, Marcquille’s bright outlook on life is contagious.

For Julia, eating a big scoop of her favorite ice cream is more than a treat for her taste buds. It’s proof that something truly remarkable has happened.

After years of battling a life-threatening milk allergy, Julia participated in a cutting-edge study at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The study was aimed at teaching the immune system to tolerate the allergen with increasingly higher doses of the allergenic food over time. For Julia, the oral immunotherapy was a resounding success. She was the first child to be cured of a milk allergy, opening up a whole new world of possibilities.

Julia still has to contend with other severe food allergies, including eggs and peanuts, as well as asthma and an inflammatory disease of the esophagus. She has been rushed to the emergency room for a near-fatal allergic reaction more than once. Though she must keep emergency medical supplies with her at all times, Julia doesn’t let her allergies rule her life. She’s a top student, a champion on her speech team, a star in her dance company, and a beacon of hope to kids with severe food allergies.

When they think of their futures, twins Tess and Alexander both have buoyant dreams. Alexander hopes to become an astronaut someday, floating weightless and free in the far reaches of space. Tess dreams of long, sunny days serving smoothies at a swim-up pool bar at a posh Caribbean resort.

Whatever the reality of their futures, these siblings are up to the challenge. Tess was diagnosed at age 2 with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Alexander was diagnosed at age 3 with hypotonic cerebral palsy. Both have undergone treatments to increase their mobility, as well as ongoing physical and occupational therapy at Children’s National Medical Center.

Alexander is a proud Cub Scout, honor roll student and is learning to play the piano. Tess is an honor roll student and a determined Brownie Scout. She recently received an award for being the top fundraiser at a school charity event. Both Tess and Alexander love to swim, take karate lessons, sing in their church choir and ride horses.

Haley is a smart, fun-loving 10-year-old who loves to hang out with her friends and rock along to Taylor Swift. She is also an eternal optimist. It’s a quality that has seen her through the toughest of times, especially her battle with cancer.

At age 8, Haley had severe pain in her leg that turned out to be osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the cancerous segment of bone in her leg and endured months of chemotherapy. Her family was worried about the possibility of amputation, but Haley’s leg was saved with the help of a new femoral prosthesis—an implant that can actually grow with her leg, eliminating the need for multiple surgeries in years to come.

Before her diagnosis, Haley was a standout gymnast and cheerleader. Though she knows her days as a gymnast are behind her, Haley refuses to define her life by what’s missing. Instead she looks ahead. Now cancer-free, Haley looks forward to all life has to offer.

Tim and Dana Huffman were told that they would never be able to conceive, so they were overjoyed to learn they were pregnant with twins. That joy was cut short when, four months before her due date, Dana went into labor. Stephen and Matthew came into the world at 24 weeks gestation, each weighing less than 1.5 pounds. The family was in for the fight of their lives.

The tiny babies faced a host of medical problems. Both were anemic and needed multiple blood transfusions. Their organs were not fully developed, especially their vulnerable lungs and eyes. Both babies suffered ventricular brain bleeds: Stephen’s was categorized as a 2 and Matthew’s a 4, which is considered catastrophic. Doctors told the Huffmans the boys would face life-long health and developmental problems. Matthew may never walk or speak.

But both boys were fighters and after three months in the NICU, they finally went home. Now you would never guess all that these toddlers had gone through. Although Matthew wears glasses, their initial medical struggles are behind them. Today, Stephen and Matthew are active little boys that keep their parents constantly on the move. They are truly miracles in every way.

Most people associate hospitals with pain and discomfort, but for 14-year-old Maddy, it’s where her extended family lives. Maddy has been treated since birth for spina bifida and resulting complications. This includes weekly physical therapy and more than 27 surgeries, with more to come. But that’s okay with Maddy; she greets every day—and everyone—with a smile.

Maddy has been declared the mayor of her hospital unit, not only because she has spent so much time there, but because she is always reaching out to patients and staff. Maddy doesn’t wants kids to be afraid of what happens in the hospital. Even when in treatment herself, she spends time out of her room and talking with other children, helping prepare them for procedures and explaining surgeries. 

Maddy has touched the lives of many at the hospital and throughout the community. Despite her own challenges—or perhaps because of them—Maddy is an inspiration.

Five-year-old Gracy has an “owie” on her heart. That’s the way she describes Wolff Parkinson White syndrome, a heart condition in which she has extra electrical pathways in her heart that can lead to episodes of rapid heart rate.

From birth to age 4, medications helped Gracy manage her heart rate, until one morning Gracy unexpectedly went in to full cardiac arrest.

Doctors attempted several cardiac ablations to fix her arrhythmia, but the procedures were unsuccessful. Gracy’s pathways are so rare that doctors were left with only one option—a very risky open heart surgery.

Four days after surgery, Gracy was on her feet roaming the hospital hallways. She hasn’t slowed down since. Gracy will continue to be monitored, but so far she’s made excellent progress. She shares her sunny personality wherever she goes, proving that she will cheerfully overcome whatever obstacles come her way.

Grace, 11, is a girl of faith, which is exactly what she needed to get through a torturous ordeal that nearly took her life.

When Grace developed a 106-degree fever and broke into a rash so severe it burned her skin, no one suspected the culprit to be an antibiotic she had recently taken.

Doctors at St. John’s Children’s Hospital determined that Grace suffered an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. It developed into Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: a rare, life-threatening sickness of the skin. Grace’s blisters were so inflamed she needed burn unit treatment. When her body began to swell to twice its size, the doctors were afraid her throat would follow suit and swell shut. Ultimately the doctors decided that Grace needed to be placed in a medically induced coma. No one knew if she would survive.

It was through a miracle at St. John’s Children’s Hospital that Grace awoke healed and free from searing pain. Grace’s mom says, “We believe her healing was a miracle of God through the skill of the hands and hearts of her physicians.” Today Grace has smooth, healthy skin, and an increased love for others and for life.

One of the joys of parenthood is taking countless pictures of your children. But Olivia’s mother noticed something odd about her daughter’s eyes in one of her baby photos and suspected something was wrong.

At 3-months-old Olivia was sent to Riley Hospital for Children where she was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, malignant tumors affecting both of her eyes. Chemotherapy shrunk the tumors in Olivia’s right eye; however, doctors were forced to remove her left.

Olivia has endured more than 30 surgeries to help reduce the remaining tumors in her right eye and, thankfully, no new tumors have been detected. This 4-year-old continues to fight her battle while living an active and normal life. Despite the loss of one eye, she plays sports and loves to ride her bike.

Olivia’s charming personality inspires people around her to support Riley Hospital. She shares her story, alongside her mother, at various events and has created art to be auctioned for Riley Children’s Foundation. She’s a powerful advocate for the hospital that is still working to save her young life.

Patience, 8, has a passion for cooking and creating recipes, which may be because of a tragic accident that prevented her from eating normally for years.

Like most children living in West Africa, Patience lived in poverty and without running water. One day she accidentally drank a caustic solution, which constricted her esophagus so severely that she could no longer eat. Her only hope of survival was going to a place where she could get the best care.

At age 4, weighing just 14 pounds, Patience was adopted by a family near University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. There she underwent repeated treatments to not only fix her esophagus but to treat the extreme malnourishment she suffered as a result of her accident. It took two years, but she was healed.

Patience is vibrant, enthusiastic and inspiring. She attacks every aspect of life with the same determination that helped her not only survive, but thrive and flourish.

It’s a rare child who would rather have a balloon than a flashy, expensive toy, but that’s Chance. He appreciates the simple things and has a special gift for positivity. He’s a child who can look at the rain and say, “It sure is a beautiful day!”

That gift has served Chance well. He was born three months early with periventricular leukomalasia (PVL), a brain injury causing permanent neurological damage affecting his movements. Though it’s taken 5-year-old Chance a lot of extra time to learn basic skills, he now walks and can even jump. When he sees other kids doing things he hasn’t been able to do, he keeps trying and says, “I can do that some day!”

Chance remains extremely compassionate, showing concern for friends, family and even trees. He says he wants to be a doctor or a pizza delivery man. Whatever he chooses, his love and compassion are sure to shine through and continue to bless the world.

It’s easy to imagine being heartbroken, even angry, if you learned that your 2-year-old child had an illness threatening to take her life. That pain was lessened for Ellie’s parents after learning she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, because nothing dampened their daughter’s spirit. It was her positive attitude that kept them going and reminded them to count their blessings.

At Kosair Children’s Hospital, little Ellie became famous for her sunny outlook, even when undergoing chemotherapy, spinal taps, and long, exhausting days of treatment. Throughout treatment, Ellie kept her smiles and perseverance, reminding everyone she met that there’s plenty to be happy about.

Ellie was so inspiring that the Ellie Cat Crew was formed in her honor to help raise money for the fight against blood cancers. Now 5 years old, she is in remission and has helped raise nearly $115,000 to help other kids beat cancer, just like her.

When Taylor was just 15 months old, she was given the diagnosis of stage 4 neuroblastoma. She spent three months in the hospital while undergoing chemotherapy. After treatment was complete, the family received the news that the chemotherapy did not work. The prognosis was now terminal. Taylor was not expected to make her second birthday, just four months away.

But Taylor did survive. She survived when tumors continued to grow, protruding out of her head and disfiguring her face. She survived when a tumor threatened to block her airway and suffocate her. She survived when the cancer took her vision and left her “legally blind.” She survived when new tumors around her brain threatened to hold her back.

Taylor survived to see her second birthday and many more. Now 10, Taylor not only walks but also runs and plays softball, soccer and basketball. She has dreams of becoming a chef and owning a restaurant. It looks like Taylor will live to see those dreams come true, thanks to the biggest miracle of all—The tumors are now benign and Taylor is cancer-free.

In the words of 4-year-old Cody’s mom, “He’s a hugger, not a fighter.” While it’s true the cheerful boy— known as the “Unofficial Greeter” of his hospital ward—has hugs for everyone he meets, Cody has definitely proven to be a fighter with everything he’s battled.

Cody was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just 10 months old. He won his first battle after six months of treatment when he went into remission. His fight wasn’t over; the cancer returned two months later with multiple brain and spine tumors. His chances of beating cancer were so low his doctors wouldn’t give a chance of survival rate to his parents. Instead, they told them to prepare for his funeral.

But Cody kept fighting. After receiving a bone marrow transplant he lived in quarantine for an entire year, never leaving the house and seeing only his mom, dad and aunt. Cody emerged happy as always and will remain a sociable “hugger” no matter the fight. Though it once seemed impossible, Cody is now in remission.

Watch Clayton dig for buried treasure in his backyard and you’ll see his enthusiasm for life. You’d never know that underneath his pirate hat, 8-year-old Clayton suffers from a life-threatening illness with no cure.

Shortly after he turned 2, Clayton began experiencing high fevers that wouldn’t respond to treatment. Doctors discovered that his lungs were covered with infection. Time was running out as the infection seemingly spread out of control. He was sent to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center where doctors diagnosed Clayton with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), a rare immune system disorder that prevents Clayton’s body from fighting off mold and bacteria like a normal body does. Missing this key part of his immune system makes Clayton highly susceptible to infection caused by certain bacteria and fungi.

The road to recovery was hard, and Clayton endured many procedures, painful tests and surgery. Six years later, Clayton takes daily medication and injections three times a week without complaint. He knows he will have to live with his illness the rest of his life, but he is determined not to let it stop him from living like a normal kid.

Born in the Dominican Republic at just 25 weeks gestation and weighing only one pound, Carla arrived with energy and determination. Doctors told Carla’s parents that she was too small to survive, but Carla quickly proved them wrong. “They knew that she was special,” says Carla’s mom.

Carla’s premature birth resulted in a long list of permanent medical complications, including: cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, brain hemorrhages, vision impairment, several blood transfusions, and motor and speech delays. When she reached 10 pounds, Carla came to Children’s Hospital Boston to receive more care for the bleeding in her brain, and a permanent shunt was put in place shortly before her first birthday.

There was no stopping Carla as she determinedly learned to walk before the age of 2, despite her cerebral palsy. Less than a year later she walked all two miles in NSTAR’s Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston, a walk to raise funds for pediatric care at the hospital. Now 5 years old, Carla demonstrates to those around her that disabilities are just a label.

“Carla is a bright, engaging young lady who is a powerhouse of energy and lives life to the fullest,” says her physical trainer. At school she expresses concern and love for her classmates, inspiring them with her contagious personality. Carla may have arrived a bit early, but she came prepared to do everything she wants in life.

In August 2009, 5-year-old Archer was walking behind an industrial lawn mower at a friend’s house when the mower turned, running him over. Archer suffered life threatening injuries and his right foot was 95 percent severed. He lost one and a half toes on his left foot. The tendons were also severed, along with two of the three main arteries, and he sustained significant blood loss.

Archer was taken to a nearby hospital, then airlifted to Hurley Medical Center, the only Level I Trauma Center north of Detroit. It took four surgeries, 18 surgeons, several specialists and nearly 40 attendants to save Archer’s feet.

Through it all, Archer’s remarkable courage and strength were an inspiration to everyone. “I’m going to be ok, Mom,” is what he told his parents before he underwent surgery.

Archer’s parents consistently remark that their son’s recovery was a miracle, and that Hurley saved their son’s life, and his legs. Today, Archer’s parents say that “nothing gets him down.”

Tenacious. That’s the word that best describes Emily, who has tackled a lifetime of medical challenges.

When she was born, seemingly lifeless, doctors rushed to resuscitate her. But the time Emily went without oxygen caused permanent damage to her brain. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just a year old. Initially, Emily’s parents received a grim prognosis. “Doctors told us to take her home and keep her comfortable, because she would never walk, talk or function,” says Emily’s mom.

Instead, Emily’s parents found Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and a specialist in pediatric rehabilitation medicine. “He told us to get Emily into therapy right away, because she had the potential to achieve all kinds of things,” recalls Emily’s mom.

Thanks to that early intervention, Emily, now 11, has made significant progress. Treatments have enabled her to walk with the help of a walker and leg braces. Though cerebral palsy affects her speech, she communicates well.

Emily rarely becomes frustrated and constantly pushes herself to achieve more. Her family knows Emily will never allow her disability to interfere with her many dreams and goals.

“Sydney stole my heart from the very beginning,” says one of Sydney’s attending nurses. At just 7 years

old, Sydney is a cancer survivor living with half a kidney. She is unique not only for what she has endured at

such a young age, but also because she hasn’t let it stop her from enjoying life and having fun.

When she was barely a year old, Sydney’s mom noticed blood in her urine and took her to the pediatrician.

At 14 months old, Sydney was diagnosed with Bilateral Wilms Tumor, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the

kidney and can affect either kidney. In Sydney’s case, both of her kidneys had cancerous tumors. Sydney was

sent to the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children where doctors removed her left kidney and a portion of her

right kidney. She then began chemotherapy and radiation treatments to save the remaining portion of her

kidney from cancer.

Sydney has beaten cancer and her smiling face shows only happiness and excitement for life. She loves

to dance, sing and play with her brother. She counts every moment as a blessing and wants to help others in

whatever way she can.

It started one day when Christopher experienced blurred vision and loss of depth perception so Christopher’s mom took him to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. Simple optical solutions seemed to be the cure until one month later when Christopher lost all peripheral mobility and nerve functions. A few months after that, Christopher woke up unable to walk.

A year of spinal taps, testing and hospital stays resulted in a diagnosis—Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, an extremely rare disease of the brain that destroys protective coating around the nerves. Without this protective coating, nerve impulses slow or stop. At the time of his diagnosis, almost nothing was known about the disease. However, doctors at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center took on the challenge of finding a cure for Christopher.

Treatment has sometimes been trial and error. Christopher’s condition changes on a daily basis. Sometimes he finds himself needing a wheelchair or walker, while other times he can run and walk. Despite the uncertainty of his illness, Christopher lives his life determined to accomplish the things he needs to get done despite any obstacles he may have to overcome.

Sotara has a personality that lights up a room. She was first introduced to the genetics team at Shodair Children’s Hospital when her grandmother brought her in to be seen for developmental delays and her short stature. Doctors tracked Sotara’s growth and development for more than four years before they were able to confirm she had Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome.

Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome (RTM) is a rare condition affecting just one out of every 125,000 children. The disease becomes more recognizable over time and is primarily characterized by short stature and developmental disabilities, which make it harder for Sotara to communicate. Patients with RTS are also at increased risk of developing certain cancers.

Sotara brings joy to everyone she meets, and loves to share her talents with others. She enjoys riding horses, performing dances from her Native American culture, and visiting with the tribal elders that come to her home and read with her. Sotara also has a deep love for music, which includes the Jonas Brothers. She is described as one of the happiest people you’ll ever meet.

What started as a normal Sunday afternoon changed Juliana’s life forever.

Following a fairly standard playground accident, Juliana’s parents took her to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center as a precaution. Careful examination of X-rays showed that Juliana had a spinal fracture, which could not have been caused by the playground incident. Doctors diagnosed Juliana with mild osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease that causes bone breaks easily and for no apparent reason.

Juliana, now 8 years old, receives preventive care treatments that strengthen her bones and stop her spinal fractures. Juliana handles these treatments with maturity beyond her years. She also celebrates every treatment with a victory lap around the room.

Juliana has to be a little more careful than most kids her age, but she doesn’t let this stop her from reaching out to others in need. Her friendly attitude is a delight to those around her, and it has helped her reach out to other children being treated with the same disease.

Colbie and Kenna became fighters the day their mom’s water broke at 23 weeks gestation. Doctors were able to delay their birth for 12 more days—which allowed their organs to further develop—before they made their entrance into the world as micro preemies. These twin sisters were born four months early, each weighing no more than one pound, 6 ounces.

They spent almost four months in the NICU at St. Rose-Siena Hospital and received blood transfusions, fought off infections and struggled to gain weight. Kenna’s biggest obstacle was her weak lungs; it could take weeks to fight off an infection. Colbie, on the other hand, could breathe fairly well but her digestive system caused her all kinds of trouble and she struggled to gain weight.

“As a father, it is comforting to know that if my girls are tough enough to do what they’ve done, they’re tough enough to get through anything,” says their dad.

Although Colbie still struggles to gain weight and Kenna’s lungs continue to have trouble fighting off infections, these twin sisters live life like normal 3 year olds. Colbie loves everybody and tells jokes to make people laugh. She is nicknamed “The Professor” because of her extensive vocabulary. Kenna is a tiny tornado who can’t stop moving. She is a natural athlete and loves to run, climb, throw and wrestle whenever possible.

At first, Lily appeared to be a perfectly healthy newborn. But shortly after taking her home, her parents began to worry that she had jaundice. At just 6 weeks old, the team at Children’s Hospital Boston diagnosed Lily with Biliary Atresia, a disease that prevents bile from leaving the liver and eventually results in scarring and cirrhosis.

Lily had abdominal surgery to help her liver, but she still needed to be placed on the liver transplant list. Doctors expressed concern that without a transplant, Lily wouldn’t make it to her second birthday.

At 19 months old, Lily’s new liver arrived. The recovery from surgery wasn’t easy, but Lily walked laps in the hospital to visit other kids and made friends with the nursing staff, winning everyone over with her infectious personality.

Now 5, you would never know Lily had to fight to survive the first few years of her life. She spends her time doing her favorite things, including playing sports, helping her teacher, and singing along to music.

When Gianna was just a year old, she was in a car accident that caused severe head trauma, including a skull fracture. She was immediately rushed to a regional trauma unit where doctors placed her in a coma to help her body cope with the injury. Her heart stopped twice during that time, but with help from Children’s Specialized Hospital, she always fought back to life.

After three weeks Gianna was taken out of her coma but she had no use of her arms or legs. She has been through brain surgery, muscle and nerve treatments, electrical stimulation and movement therapies. For the past 13 years, she has received constant care from Children’s Specialized Hospital. Now 14, Gianna has limited use of her right arm and difficulties with movement in her right leg. She will go to therapy for the rest of her life.

Despite the challenges life has thrown at her, Gianna looks for the positive in every situation. She loves to make those around her smile and her deep concern for others is a true testament of her inspiring character.

Kyle has his future perfectly planned. First, he’s going to work for a cancer-related company. Second, he’s going to become the President of the United States. If anyone has the motivation and strength to reach these ambitious goals, it’s Kyle.

Diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a common form of bone cancer, Kyle has been through 18 rounds of chemotherapy, two lung operations and a major leg operation. His leg operation included removing and replacing his knee, four inches of his femur and eight inches of his tibia with stainless steel. Kyle stayed positive every step of the way.

Known as “the future politician,” Kyle is outgoing, energetic and always has a smile. If you ask him about his disease Kyle will tell you, “I had cancer, cancer never had me.”

Mason’s parents were devastated when they learned that their baby son would be born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Mason had a hole in his diaphragm that caused his liver, stomach, spleen and intestines to drift up into his chest squeezing his lungs and preventing them from growing. The condition has a 50 percent survival rate.

Three days after Mason was born, he was placed on ECMO, a heart-lung machine that helped deliver the needed oxygen to his body. Nine days later, Mason underwent major surgery to place his organs back where they belonged.

Since then Mason has endured several more surgeries, but you’d never know it by the constant smile on his face. He adores his doctors and even dressed up like his favorite surgeon for Halloween.

Mason and his parents have been among the hospital’s biggest supporters, rallying their friends and their community to support the hospital. Both Mason and his incredibly supportive family inspire everyone they meet.

Just days after her birth, Jayla developed a rash all over her body and began having seizures. She was initially thought to have a calcium imbalance, but Jayla was ultimately diagnosed with Complete DiGeorge Syndrome, an extremely rare disease that affects fewer than 10 babies born in the United States each year.

Born without a thymus gland, which is responsible for the “education” of T-cells that build our immune system, Jayla could have died from exposure to the smallest germ. Her family was referred to Duke Children’s Hospital, and doctors set out to save Jayla’s life.

Months after receiving treatment, a biopsy revealed a “super positive,” the first sign that the transplanted thymus Jayla received was working.

After living in total isolation for the first years of her life, today Jayla lives worry free. She beat initial life expectancy odds of just one year and is now attending preschool. She loves giving hugs, listening to stories and being around her sisters and classmates.

In September 2010, Laine was the victim of an accidental gunshot wound to the thigh. Laine was immediately airlifted to Sanford Children’s Hospital for surgery and treatment. He needed a wound V.A.C. (Vacuum Assisted Closure) to provide a protected wound-healing environment that would remove infectious materials.

Demonstrating an incredibly positive attitude throughout his recovery, Laine called the wound V.A.C. his “machine” because it became a part of him and went everywhere he went. But Laine didn’t let the machine slow him down one bit. Less than one week after his injury, Laine was walking on his own.

Fortunately, the accident affected mostly tissue and very little muscle, so Laine won’t experience any permanent physical effects from the gunshot. Today Laine gravitates toward anything that has to do with farming, especially riding horses with his mom and helping his dad feed the cows.

The festivities of Brad’s 12th birthday were unfortunately accompanied by body aches and vomiting. His flu-like symptoms continued throughout the next few days to the point he could barely stand. When Brad’s mother finally rushed him to Akron Children’s Hospital, doctors discovered he had contracted rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a serious inflammatory disease caused by untreated or complicated cases of strep throat.

From the moment he was admitted, Brad’s life became a roller coaster as his body fought the deadly disease. At one point he went into full cardiac arrest and physicians decided to replace the aortic valve of his heart with a mechanical one. Thankfully, the risky surgery was a success and Brad’s body slowly began to recover.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Brad kept his spirits up. Even during his lowest moments he would ask his nurses how all the other patients were faring.

Brad continues to take specialized medication and makes regular visits to the hospital. Everyone is always happy to welcome him and his great big smile—a hallmark of his spirit and attitude toward life.

Shortly after birth, Lucy was diagnosed with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Lucy is unable to make the stress hormone cortisol, which means she becomes very ill in times of physical stress. Her first year was very traumatic, but with the help of medical teams through Children’s Hospital Foundation, Lucy, now 6, is extremely active and living the life of a normal child.

Lucy will be on replacement doses of hormones the rest of her life due to her adrenal insufficiency, but that doesn’t slow her down. You’ll always find her running around, meeting new friends. She loves to laugh and you’ll frequently find her singing her way through her day.

When Lucy grows up she wants to be a doctor. She can already walk you through a typical doctor’s visit by taking your vitals, listening to your heart beat and giving you a pretend shot. She knows the all the procedures and will ensure you receive the best possible care, just like she’s received every step of her life.

Like many sisters, Morgan and Hanna shared almost everything. But when Hanna was diagnosed with Hurler’s Disease, Morgan shared something that would change both of their lives forever—her bone marrow. Hurler’s disease makes it impossible for Hanna to break down starches produced in her body and those starches attack various organs and structures in her body. Morgan’s bone marrow has helped Hanna’s body produce the enzymes needed to reverse those attacks.

Hanna continues to visit Rogue Valley Medical Center for infusion therapy to replace the enzymes her body doesn’t produce. The infusions will continue for the rest of her life.

But that certainly doesn’t stop Hanna from living with gusto. From riding ponies to flying hot air balloons, she lives life to the fullest…a gift she knows is in great part to her sister and the incredible medical staff at Rogue Valley Medical Center.

On a fall day in 2008, 3-year-old Aiden’s life forever changed. After telling him to get in the car seat in their truck, Aiden’s father quickly went inside to tell his wife goodbye. The truck was not running and the keys were not in the car, but somehow the truck was knocked into gear and rolled down the driveway off a 10-foot rock embankment. Aiden was thrown into a neighboring field, fracturing his skull.

After being rushed to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, Aiden spent the next 43 days overcoming the trauma inflicted on his small body. The accident damaged his skull, which caused him to have a stroke and resulted in him losing mobility to the left side of his body. He was discharged in December just in time for the holidays.

Aiden is now attending preschool and continues physical therapy and occupational therapy twice a week. He continues to improve every day and never lets anything get in his path. Aiden has a great appreciation of life and makes sure that everyone around him feels the same way.

Evan, also known as “the Mayor,” is well known throughout his community and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. It’s not hard to see why when you meet this friendly 12-year-old.

Doctors say Evan is the only kid they know who wakes up from sedation telling jokes. And that’s typical of this outgoing young man with a great sense of humor. Always laughing and always smiling, Evan has learned to make his struggles with spina bifida merely a bump in his road of life.

Being born with spina bifida brings with it a host of medical problems. Evan has been in and out of the hospital frequently with hydrocephalus and shunt placements, various surgeries and a variety of fractures.

Although Evan has some adversities, he does not let them stand in his way. He loves a variety of sports, enjoys bowling, and is learning to play the violin. Evan’s determined to never let anything get in his way of living life the way he wants to.

At just 5 days old, Matthew underwent a 10-hour open-heart surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The surgery, known as the Norwood procedure, would enable Matthew to survive with only half a heart. This remarkable new procedure gave him a chance at life. Prior to the procedure’s development in 1981, children with this unique syndrome would live for only three to four days. Today, Matthew is an energetic 11-year-old and proves that he has more heart than anyone around.

Despite many of the unknowns related to his condition, Matthew lives each day to the fullest of his abilities. Though he’s unable to participate in traditional cardiovascular activities, he is always the liveliest person on the sidelines cheering on his family, friends and classmates. And you can always find him front and center when it comes to talking about the hospital that saved his life. He has become an avid fundraiser and spokesperson for MUSC Children’s Hospital, especially for children with heart problems.

When Kelsey was born, right away there were clues that there was something terribly wrong. None of her symptoms compared to any other syndrome doctors had encountered. After a months of investigation, geneticists discovered a duplication of a portion of one of Kelsey’s 12th chromosomes. Kelsey had congenital hip dysplasia that resulted in three surgeries and heart defects that required open heart surgery at age 2.

There has never been another documented case of this exact abnormality.

Truly one of a kind, Kelsey and her family have celebrated every milestone of her development. The chromosomal abnormality has affected her mental development, eye development, bone formation, muscle tone and coordination/ balance. Despite her challenges, Kelsey comes out of every procedure or treatment declaring with exuberance, "all done!"

At the age of 7, Kelsey has endured more than most kids, but unless you saw her scars, you would never know it. She is a tender-hearted girl that loves to make everyone around her happy. She is sweet and outgoing, and the littlest things make her genuinely excited.

“I’d rather have cancer than watch someone else go through it,” are the brave words of Kennedy, 14. This outgoing teenager’s maturity comes from years of treatment for osteogenic sarcoma, a type of bone cancer in her femur. When asked if she would go through cancer again, she said, “Cancer has taken so much from me, yet I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”

Kennedy was nicknamed “Kennedy the Warrior” early in her therapy and it’s obvious why when you see the laundry list of treatments she’s endured.

Immediately after being diagnosed with cancer, she experienced a life-threatening complication, which caused temporary kidney failure and damage to her liver, intestinal tract and bone marrow. Thankfully she recovered, but seven months later doctors found a recurrence of her tumor. This time Kennedy and her family made the tough decision to amputate her leg above the knee.

Despite the amputation, Kennedy continues to approach life with humor and cheerfully introduces her stump as “Bob.” She’s an inspiration to all she encounters and reminds everyone, “Don’t give up on anything just because it’s hard.”

Dustin’s life changed forever the moment he, along with his mother and sister, were in a car accident. All three sustained injuries but Dustin’s were the most serious. He was rushed to Children’s Hospital at Scott & White. Dustin would endure five separate surgeries to mend fractures in his face, a broken jaw, and several internal injuries. Because of severe trauma to his spinal cord, he also had two metal pins put in the back of his neck. Unfortunately, he would never regain the use of his lower body.

Dustin never put limits on his life before the accident, and he never did after.

He had planned to play football the next fall, and his parents and teachers were apprehensive about how he would feel returning to school with his new physical limitations. But they had nothing to worry about. Dustin was invited to be part of the football team and has become an energetic part of every practice, game and pep rally. He’s also training to play tennis with a goal of making it to the Special Olympics.

In May 2009, Reed was feeding his horses when he was kicked in the head. His brother ran to get help; Reed’s parents found him unconscious. He was driven to a nearby hospital where Life Flight immediately took him to Primary Children’s Medical Center. Reed’s life was in danger as he suffered from a skull fracture and bleeding on the inside and outside of his brain.

Doctors stopped the bleeding and removed a portion of Reed’s skull. Unfortunately, his condition did not improve and he was put into a medically induced coma to fight for his life. Reed soon began breathing on his own and was released from the hospital 21 days later. The care Reed received at Primary Children’s Medical Center saved his life.

Today, 10-year-old Reed is always happy and does not let the accident or his injuries get him down. His family motto is “never give up,” and Reed will never give up on life.

Tony is a bright, 13-year-old kid who loves sports, whether it’s playing them on video games or playing the real thing outside. He’s a seventh grader who enjoys history and hanging out with his friends.

You would never know that Tony was born with polycystic kidney disease—a genetic disease that causes non-cancerous cysts to develop in the kidneys, disrupting their ability to function normally. He’s been on medications his whole life, in the care of Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care.

Two years ago, Tony needed a kidney transplant. Fortunately, his sister Amber, then 23, donated one of her kidneys. The transplant was a success. He takes medications to keep the transplant functioning well and has monthly visits with doctors to monitor his health.

Tony’s positive outlook helps him cope with things and keeps him smiling. As someone who enjoys helping others, he’s also looking forward to helping raise money and awareness for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “I like getting money and giving it to charities to help other kids and families,” Tony said. “It’s fun to do because you meet new people in the process.”

Ben and his mom spent weeks planning his 10th birthday. Invitations were sent, entertainment was booked, and Ben’s friends were excited to attend. But the day before the festivities, Ben was taken to the hospital with abdominal pain and a sore throat. Unfortunately, his birthday surprise was a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. White blood cells were invading his body including his lungs, spleen and around his heart. Ben began chemotherapy immediately.

Similar to any child undergoing chemotherapy, Ben had his ups and downs during treatment. He faced several rare side effects and allergic reactions to his drugs, but he overcame each challenge with the help of the talented doctors and oncology team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond.

After 25 months, Ben completed treatment.

Today, you will find 14-year-old Ben in the spotlight. He loves to perform and entertain those around him, determined to leave the world a better, happier place.

Tristan was only 5 months old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that caused uncontrollable seizures. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but it came back after three weeks. Medications and chemotherapy were used in an effort to stop the 200-400 seizures he was having each day, but nothing helped.

Luckily, a solution to Tristan’s seizures was found at Children’s Hospital. Doctors explained that unless they removed the left side of Tristan’s brain, seizures would eventually kill him. His parents knew that was the only option and the four-hour hemispherectomy surgery ended Tristan’s seizures once and for all.

From the beginning, Tristan has exhibited an internal strength that doesn’t let him stop progressing. His parents were told that there was a possibility that he would never talk or walk again. Today, this 13-yearold does everything at sprint speed and never stops talking. He is extremely athletic and enjoys karate, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, baseball and swimming. His right arm doesn’t function like it used to, but he adapts and figures out how to get things done.

Tristan may only have half his brain, but he lives life twice as full as most kids his age.

Shortly after Wyatt was born, his mother knew something wasn’t right. He weighed very little and no matter how much he ate, Wyatt struggled to gain weight.

At just 6 weeks old, Wyatt was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that causes lung infections and impaired digestion. This requires him to be on a feeding tube every night, take medications every morning, and use a vibration vest throughout the day to help shake loose the secretions that occur in his lungs.

Although cystic fibrosis will be a life-long battle, research has dramatically increased the life span for many patients. Wyatt regularly visits West Virginia University Children’s Hospital to ensure he remains healthy.

Today, 15-year-old Wyatt enjoys high school and loves hanging out with friends. He’s a typical teenager who loves to play video games, update his Facebook page and has a passion for football, even though cystic fibrosis prevents him from playing it. Wyatt wants everyone to know that people with cystic fibrosis can still live normally, and he’s a testament to that by living his life like a normal teenager.

Vincent was born with congenital heart disease, which required surgical heart repair shortly after birth. However, at 6 years old, Vincent became sick with the flu and his heart function rapidly declined.

In order to save Vincent’s life, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin received permission for Vincent to use a Berlin Pediatric Heart. A month later, Vincent received a successful heart transplant.

“We are so grateful Children’s Hospital was able to give our son the opportunity to wait for a heart transplant,” said Vincent’s parents. “We were a little nervous, but the whole team was confident and calm every step of the way.”

Today, 12-year-old Vincent knows how important it is to keep his new heart healthy and enjoys playing football, baseball and soccer. Vincent always tries his best no matter what the task, and he loves to make people smile. With his new heart, there is no limit to what Vincent will accomplish.

Emily has a larger-than-life spirit, but she had a much smaller start to life. Emily was born weighing only 5 pounds, 1.5 ounces. Despite eating three times the amount of a normal infant, she struggled to gain weight and her parents knew something wasn’t right.

After Emily was referred to a nutritionist, doctors recommended a sweat test. Those very words made her father’s heart drop because a sweat test only meant one thing—she was being tested for cystic fibrosis.

On Emily’s second birthday, her family was forced to evacuate their home because of Hurricane Katrina. They decided to move closer to The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., where Emily’s parents knew they would find the best possible care for their daughter.

Although Emily still receives treatment, she is a perfectly happy 7-year-old. She loves to be with friends, ski and play soccer, and wants to be a dance teacher when she grows up.