Niswonger Children’s Stories

Beckett Brooks portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Beckett

Burn victim

7-year-old Beckett’s active life changed one night on a family camping trip. As Beckett leaned toward the campfire to roast a marshmallow, his chair tipped, propelling his body into the blazing firepit. He ended up at Niswonger Children’s Hospital with third-degree burns on his knees and palm.

Read Beckett’s story here.


Cleo Johnson portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Cleo

Type 1 diabetes

Bubbly, friendly Cleo is a true performer. She loves making people laugh and performing in pageants. But those were put on hold last year when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a week before she turned five.

Read Cleo’s story here.


Raena Richards portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Raena

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Raena has practiced karate since she was four, but late last summer, Raena had to put up her bō so she could concentrate on her health. A week before her 13th birthday, Raena’s parents, Michael and Crystal, noticed she had no energy, and she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Read Raena’s story here.


William Perry portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

William

NICU baby

Born via emergency C-section, he was brought to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Niswonger Children’s Hospital to be treated for infection and air outside of his lungs.

Read William’s story here.


Gracie Nelson portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Gracie

Neurofibromatosis

At 2 years old, a terrifying seizure landed Gracie and her family in a series of specialist appointments looking for answers. She was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition she inherited from her mother which causes tumors to grow in the body.

Read Gracie’s story here.


Finley Lanier portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Finley

NICU patient

Finley has come a long way since he arrived three-and-a-half months early at only 12 inches long and so small that his dad’s wedding ring could fit around his wrist.

Read Finley’s story here.


Edgar Sanchez portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Edgar

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Since the day he was born, Edgar never got sick beyond an occasional cold. Then, a few weeks before his sixth birthday, he developed a nasty cough. His mother, Leonor, took him to Niswonger Children’s Hospital Emergency Department.

Read Edgar’s story here.


Waylon Perry portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Waylon

Shaken Baby Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

At just eight months old, Waylon was brought unresponsive to the Niswonger Children’s Hospital emergency department. He had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury from being violently shaken.

Read Waylon’s story here.


Mahayla Hendrickson portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Mahayla

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)

She was born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), addicted to five substances, including meth and cocaine. She received no prenatal care and after birth, spent 10 days in the neonatal intensive care unit before being released.

Read Mahayla’s story here.


Ridge Seal portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Ridge

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Ridge loves playing outdoors, chasing animals on his family’s farm and… breakdancing. But three years ago, when a stubborn fever slowed him down, his mother, Shea, knew something wasn’t right.

Read Ridge’s story here.


Avianca Leslie portrait, Niswonger Children’s Hospital Patient

Avianca

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Avianca’s first symptoms were large, “angry purple” bruises, which she calls “purpuras.” They looked alarming enough that Avianca’s parents, Frik and Elizabeth, took her to urgent care, where they were immediately sent to Niswonger Children’s Hospital.

Read Avianca’s story here.


Ellee Portrait, smiling with red flower bow

Ellee

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia – Abingdon, Virginia

In January 2017, 5-year-old Ellee's journey started with excruciating leg pain and a visit to Niswonger Children’s Hospital’s emergency room. Within a few hours, she was admitted and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, then flown to Memphis two days later. 

Read Ellee’s story here.


Arimina portrait, full body, clapping with smile

Arimina

Down syndrome, acute lymphoblastic leukemia – Grainger County, Tennessee

Named after her great grandmother, Arimina (Air-ah-mine-ah) is a little girl who is as special — and as strong — as her name, which means “soldier.” Born with Down syndrome and now diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Arimina and her family have bravely faced some tough times.

Read Arimina's story here.


Ayden and Ava portrait, full body, smiling

Ayden and Ava

NICU family care – Johnson City, Tennessee

Kim didn’t expect to go into labor three months before her due date, which meant she would spend the rest of her pregnancy in the hospital. Of course, she didn’t expect her babies to be born two months early weighing less than 3 pounds, and she certainly didn’t expect to have a hysterectomy following a C-section.

Read Ayden and Ava's story here.