| AboutChildren's Miracle NetworkStar Stories |  |
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Star StoriesClick here to share your story. SuperStar StoryDrew was born with Spina Bifida, a physical opening of the back in which the skin tissue does not fuse together and exposes nerve endings. She underwent her first surgery the day following her birth to close the opening. She recovered quickly, but as many babies born with Spina Bifida, Drew had water on the brain. This required another surgery to place a shunt in her head that would drain the water from her brain into her abdomen. This surgery was done a week after her birth. Drew continued her recovery in the ICU for the next 34 days. Drew has had additional procedures and follow-up appointments. She has a strong spiritual faith and gets much joy out of helping others. 
Star StoriesNathan lived a healthy first 18 months of his life with down syndrome. It was then that he suffered a large stroke that wiped out 40% of his brain. He was hospitalized immediately at UI Children's Hospital. A few days after being released, Nathan went into a coma and was life-flighted back to UI Children's Hospital where he underwent a craniotomy to reduce the pressure in his skull. After a long, strong fight, Nathan passed away on August 1, 2007 due to a pulmonary embolism. His family is grateful for all the care they received at UI Children's Hospital and they feel lucky to have been touched by such a wonderful brother and son. 
Star StoriesJyShon was born in Iowa City at 27 weeks. Being born at 2 lbs. 3 oz., I was not sure that he would survive. The doctor and nurses from the NICU were a godsend. They held my hand and talked me through everything. After 87 days, we were able to go home. JyShon was on oxygen for his first 10 months and on a vent for his first two months. He is growing very fast while his lungs try to heal. We have been to the hospital about 10 times since coming home, but through all of this JyShon is a very happy, energetic, growing boy that loves cars, buses and trucks. I owe my life and my son's life to Iowa City. 
Star StoriesKelsey was born December 20, 2002. She was three years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She has had over 20 hospital visits totaling over 110 days. Her longest stay was 24 days with the flu. She has had many blood and platelet transfusions. Every time Kelsey has gone to the hospital sick, she always comes away with happy memories. She doesn't remember the pokes and pricks, she remembers the hanging out with her new friends that have cancer, the play rooms and meeting Herky and Ms. Iowa! 
Star StoriesIn July 2008, Sergio was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Level M6. This rare form of Leukemia affects less than 500 kids per year in the U.S. He was tutored and home schooled for all of 6th Grade due to the risks of sending a child who is immuno-supressed to school. Six of the eight months on treatment, Sergio was an inpatient at the UI Children's Hospital. Sergio is an active kid who loves to play soccer, football, softball, dodge ball, and is part of the Quad City Jr. Bowling League. He participates in Boy Scouts with Pack 103 and helps to take care of the community through many activities with his family. 
Star StoriesSydney had surgery in August of 2005 at the age of five for Chiari Malformation (structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance), and Syringomyelia (a disorder in which a cyst forms within the spinal cord). At that time, they were switching floors to redo pediatrics so it was an interesting stay, always busy. Her highlight of the stay was the racecar wheelchair, shopping at the giftshop, and a pizza party that she went to and played UNO with a group of other kids. Everyone was great to us even through the rough spots. 
Star StoriesSydney had her tonsils removed on March 30, 2007. On April 7th, she began hemorrhaging. She was taken by ambulance to UI Children's Hospital where emergency surgery was performed early in the morning on April 8th. She had lost a lot of blood, much of which was absorbed by her lungs. After a blood transfusion and the surgery, Sydney's recovery began. After a couple of days in the PICU, she was moved down to the 2nd Floor Pediatric unit where she was playing and riding bikes around the unit. She's a true miracle. 
Star StoriesToday Landon is an energetic boy. But at his three year check up at Covenant Hospital in Waterloo, something proved abnormal in his heartbeat. At first it was thought to be a heart murmur. A few tests later showed that he had an Aortic Coarctation, a pinch in his artery. Within two weeks of the check up, he was referred to UI Children's Hospital for open heart surgery to fix the pinch. He healed faster than anticipated by all the doctors and nurses and was back to his old self in no time. Landon enjoys gymnastics, soccer and being on the boat in the summer time! 
Star StoriesA few hours after Maddixx was born he seemed to be struggling more and more to breathe. He was transferred to the NICU at Genesis where he remained for a few days but then needed to be airlifted to the UI Children's Hospital NICU. After a couple of weeks of treatment, Maddixx was transported back to the Genesis NICU to learn to eat so he could go home. The doctors and nurses of the UI NICU saved Maddixx with their skill, knowledge, caring and compassion. Thank you doesn't seem like enough for saving our son. 
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