Brett and Julia

Brett and Julia share something very special, not only are they brother and sister but each has a cochlear implant that provides them the ability to hear.

Brett’s hearing loss was discovered at 14 months, about the same time that his baby sister Julia was born. Julia, however, was born profoundly deaf and both children were referred to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida.

Brett returns to his clinic appointments, at Shands Children’s Hospital, at least four times a year to check the range of sounds that the device provides him. The use of his cochlear implants allows him to be very active and enjoy all the typical activities for his age. He is interested in sports such as lacrosse, swimming and baseball. He is also a member of the boy scouts attending overnight camps in the summer with his friends.

Julia also makes several trips to Shands Children’s Hospital each year to have her hearing monitored. Monitoring the effectiveness of her device helps maintain hearing from the softest to the loudest sounds. Providing Julia the maximum amount of sounds available helps her to enjoy singing, dancing and socializing with her friends.

Today, both children are participating in all of their activities to the fullest with each experience being enhanced by their cochlear implants and the world of sound.

Calvin

Calvin possesses a truly magnetic personality. His charm draws in all in which he encounters. Everyone is always intrigued by his never-ending energy. This is most impressive for a young man who has endured more in his short life than most do over the course of an entire lifetime.

Calvin received a kidney transplant after spending many long days in pediatric dialysis at Shands Children’s Hospital. Calvin underwent dialysis for his renal disease several times a week. Each dialysis session lasted several hours. This was certainly not the way most boys look forward to spending their days and afternoons. But, Calvin always made the best of it and made light of the situation. He even wrote his own song titled, “I’ve Got the Dialysis Blues”.

Eventually, Calvin received a new kidney from his own mother. After many years of waiting and making sure Calvin was ready to receive the kidney from his mother, both underwent surgery and the transplant was a success. Their story truly embodies one of sacrifice, love and selflessness.

Today, Calvin is as energetic as ever and he enjoys singing, playing video games and running outside.

Samantha

Samantha was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a complex genetic disorder, which affects appetite, growth, metabolism, learning ability and behavior. Newborns with PWS are described as “floppy” and are unable to obtain sufficient nutrients they need to survive due to poor muscle tone. Samantha struggled during her early years and as she grew older, as a result of PWS, she developed an interest in food and rapidly gained excessive weight. Samantha’s extremely poor muscle tone and involuntarily urge to eat excessively put her at risk for obesity. Her lack of strength and muscle tone make normal activities enjoyed by other kids, such as running or biking, a challenge for Samantha.

Through her search to improve Samantha’s quality of life, her mother decided to bring her to Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida for treatment. Samantha has been on growth hormones for some time now and while she is improving slowly, Samantha and her family know that she has a long road ahead of her. In addition to her physical condition, Samantha has been in therapy for her speech and behavior and her communication skills are greatly improving. Due to her progress, she now enjoys playing basketball in her back yard and playtime with her dog, Pepper. Samantha and her family, along with a team of UF physicians and Shands Children’s Hospital staff, hope to one day find a cure for Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Information

For more information about Children's Miracle Network, call (352) 265-7953 or (800) 284-6472 or visit www.shandskids.org.

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