Avery
Avery’s story: A tiny dancer beats leukemia. Every year in the U.S., 3,500 to 4,000 children are diagnosed with leukemia. That’s about 30% of all childhood cancers. Leukemia is a type of cancer that develops […]
Dayday
According to Brittany Ramsey, her daughter, 3-year-old Datura “Dayday” Matherly, is the “happiest child in the world.” DayDay, from Russellville, Kentucky, has Angelman syndrome, a rare neuro-genetic disorder. Dayday was diagnosed around her first birthday. […]
Beckham and Saylor
Audrey Bennett from Bowling Green, Kentucky, was excited to be a first-time mom and overjoyed for the arrival of twins. “I had written out and discussed my birthing plan in advance,” Audrey said. “I was […]
Bodi
Every cold season typically brings challenges for Bodi Johnson, a 5-year-old Western Kentucky boy with Down syndrome. His vulnerability to respiratory infections often leads to hospital stays, and November 2023 was no different. Bodi was […]
Greta
When Greta Wermeling made her early entrance into the world in October 2022, she was met with immediate medical challenges. Born six weeks prematurely at a Louisville hospital, she was intubated right after delivery. Her […]
Brayden
With the help of modern technology and the Christensen Family Sports & Activity Program, a part of Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, Brayden Cashon has been able to continue his love for wrestling while managing Type 1 diabetes. […]
Isaac
It’s been a long journey for Louisville Male High School football star Isaac Sowells Jr. Isaac, known by most as “Spike,” is among the highest-ranked high school offensive linemen in Kentucky and has been recruited […]
Titus
Early beginnings and diagnosis Titus Williams’ journey as a heart patient started the moment he was born. As soon as he was delivered via cesarean section at a hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, doctors noticed something […]
Meadow EmmaLou
Meadow EmmaLou Boes loves princesses. The 2-year-old is obsessed with Elsa from “Frozen.” Among her growing vocabulary, three of her top words are, “Let it go!” “Meadow lives life at 100%,” said Sarah, Meadow’s mom. […]
Rowan
Mere days after Rowan Adams came into the world, her parents noticed something was wrong. “She started to breathe really hard and rapidly; she wouldn’t eat,” said Kristina Adams, Rowan’s mom. “When I was holding […]
Eli
Elijah “Eli” Mayes, an 11-year-old from Lewisburg, Kentucky, is thriving, despite a rare and complicated heart disease. When he was born, Eli was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, an abnormality of the heart. The […]
Bridget
Norton Children’s orthopedic surgeons are using computer navigation technology to treat kids and teenagers with scoliosis and other spine deformities. The technology, called 7D, is an imaging guidance system designed to aid surgeons in the […]
Tate and Tripp
Becoming a first-time parent can be nerve-wracking, even more so when that day comes much sooner than expected. “It’s been a roller coaster,” said Austin Myers. Austin’s identical twin sons, Tate and Tripp Myers, were […]
Nathan
At 12 years old, Nathan King was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. “At first it was really intimidating,” said Nathan, now a senior in high school. “It was just super overwhelming.” Type 1 diabetes is […]
Abby
Abby Wimsatt is excited for the future after receiving a unique operation to treat bone cancer in her leg. Last year, Abby, a 14-year-old from Cecilia, Kentucky, developed knee pain. At first the gymnast and […]
Caroline and Catherine
Caroline Herzig’s life revolves around horses, while her sister, Catherine, lives for tennis. Despite their different interests, the girls have a lot in common. Due to spine surgery and a severely broken leg, the sisters […]
Terri Massey
As a nurse practitioner for Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, Mary T. “Terri” Massey, APRN, has become an invaluable force caring for the youngest and sickest heart patients. Her […]
Dr. Deborah J. Kozik
It’s a phone call pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Deborah J. Kozik, D.O., has received more than 100 times. One of her patients has been waiting months for a new heart. On this morning, a donor heart in another […]
Aubrie
Aubrie Chandler loves volleyball. A hitter on her championship team last year, Aubrie, 12, has always wanted to play as the libero, a defensive player in the back row who receives lots of spikes and […]
Zoey
Three-year-old Zoey Keipp is all smiles during her visits with Brian J. Holland, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Zoey, whose family lives in the Paducah, Kentucky, […]
Wren
Wren’s parents were surprised with her diagnosis at birth. About an hour after she was born, neonatologists noticed her oxygen levels were lower than normal. It led to a whirlwind of tests, and Wren was […]
Stella
Stella’s journey began with congenital heart disease. Even before her birth on Nov. 15, 2017, her family knew she was destined for an extraordinary path. Her heart conditions included holes and weakened muscle, which meant […]
Savannah
Savannah Garner is a trouper. That is the biggest takeaway from the people closest to her. The fifth-grade girl from Louisville has been living with a medical condition for most of her life. Savannah was […]
Maisie
Maisie’s heart journey began when her mother was 24 weeks pregnant. At a routine ultrasound, Maisie’s mom was referred to Norton Children’s Hospital for an official diagnosis. Maisie was then diagnosed with a narrowing aortic […]
Madison
Meet Madison, a 3-year-old superhero who has inspired us all. Madison’s heart story began early. She was diagnosed with an unbalanced atrioventricular canal defect at just 20 weeks in the womb. At seven days old, […]
Liam
As Liam Atherton crossed the finish line at the Bluegrass BMX championship last fall, the 11-year-old couldn’t help but smile. Not only had Liam won the race in the sport he loves, but just hours […]
Kira
Kira Scrogham loves running track and cross-country, and a spinal fusion surgery to correct her scoliosis hasn’t slowed down this 16-year-old. Kira has always loved being involved in sports, but in sixth grade, a scoliosis screening put […]
Hudson
When Jessica and Jarrod Hogue left Norton Hospital without their newborn, they had no idea what to make of the following days, let alone years. On March 12, 2021, the Hogues welcomed their baby, Hudson, into the […]
Devan
As an active young boy growing up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Devan Riley experienced pains in his legs. He also endured recurring numbness on his left arm, which became more bothersome over the years. “As […]
Alaina
Surrounded by nurses and staff, Alaina Kenney proudly rang the “end of treatment bell” at Norton Children’s Hospital. The celebration in early August 2023 marked the end of the 13-year-old’s chemotherapy treatments, nearly four years […]
Abel
Through two brain surgeries, months of chemotherapy and a lot of hospital visits over the last three years, “Incredible Abel” had one goal — to be well enough to try football. “I don’t think he’s […]
Nouri
Four-year-old Nouri was born with a hole in his heart, a condition that — for babies in the U.S. — usually can be surgically repaired soon after birth. But in Nouri’s home country, Burkina Faso, such […]
Harold
No parent wants to see their child in pain. For months this summer, Anita Salik watched her 9-year-old son, Harold, experience persistent, debilitating headaches. “I would always wake up in the night and it would […]
Grayson
Grayson and his family made many trips to see Norton Children’s specialists since September 2022, but none was more memorable than Dec. 29, 2023. In late 2022, Grayson complained about bad smells. He covered his […]
Dominick
Dominick Smith spent the first week of summer break at Norton Children’s Hospital. While it wasn’t the ideal way to wrap up the school year, the junior from Petersburg, Indiana, was grateful. On the last […]
Annashae
It’s hard for Annashae Wyatt to remember life before her diagnosis. While most kids her age were starting to explore the world, Annashae’s took an unexpected turn. At just 4 years old, she was diagnosed […]
Dulce
Dulce Alvarez Batres of Louisville, Kentucky, was diagnosed with neonatal diabetes when she was just 1 week old. Dulce’s mom, Wendy Batres, was not prepared at all. “She is a girl that is teaching us […]
Chloe Clark
After a 441-day stay at Norton Children’s Hospital, 2-year-old Chloe Clark beat the odds by receiving a heart transplant. Chloe spent more than half of her life within the walls of the hospital before she […]
Kylie
You wouldn’t know it, but Kylie Smith is in the early stages of Type 1 diabetes. Thanks to a new treatment at Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, Kylie, a 15-year-old from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, has the chance to potentially […]
Rosia Grace
Rosia Grace had a higher risk of heart issues due to her mother’s history. Before she was born, she was diagnosed with interrupted aortic arch and a large ventricular septal defect. Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine […]
Thomas
As doctors, nurses and staff lined the lobby of Norton Children’s Hospital to say goodbye, Thomas Norris had a big reason to smile. After almost a year of waiting and more than 100 days in […]