We are honored to have Charleigh as our 2024 CMN Champion in Fargo. Read more about her story here: https://lnkd.in/gYGKq2dx
Charleigh was five years old when she and her brothers were placed into emergency foster care. Due to her critical condition, she was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at Sanford Health and the doctors gave her less than 12 hours to live. She was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare but potentially fatal condition that causes the body to attack itself. Charleigh remained in the hospital for over two months, and during this time, the children’s hospital staff became her family. A few months later, Kathy and Jared decided to foster Charleigh, fully aware that she was still undergoing treatment for HLH including chemotherapy, had almost all of her teeth removed, had serious mental health issues, needed corrective oral surgery, and had a host of other diagnosis. Over the course of her oncology, oral maxillofacial, psychology and dermatology visits, Charleigh never complained. By the following summer, Charleigh was able to ‘ring the bell’ as she finished her treatment of HLH. The year that Kathy and Jared officially adopted Charleigh and her brother, she asked if she could give all of her Christmas presents to the kids at Sanford Children’s Hospital – Fargo. Now, Charleigh is in the fifth grade, enjoying playing basketball and her HLH diagnosis appears to be in remission. Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Charleigh’s medical and psychosocial needs were met with highly specialized programs.