“I think I can:” Despite a complex set of diagnoses, brave Paige faces each obstacle with the support of Children's Health℠ team members and fellow patients.

Last summer, Paige stood at the bottom of a 30-foot-tall rock wall. With braces strapped to her legs, she stared up at the top, unsure if she had the strength to scale this proverbial mountain.

Born with cerebral palsy, 6-year-old Paige had never attempted this kind of climbing feat. But just like the little blue engine in the children’s book, she thought she could. So, she started to climb, eventually reaching the top. “She turned around and looked down at all of us, and she had the biggest smile I have ever seen in my life plastered on her face. You could see the amount of pride she felt in that moment, accomplishing something for herself that she wasn’t sure she could do,” her mom, Liz, said.

Below, the cheering squad got louder as her parents, twin sister and friends rooted for her to keep going through the ropes course. But that big smile vanished once she realized she’d have to jump down a long zip line.

Alex, an older girl she met while running around Camp John Marc — a summer camp for Children's Health patients like Paige who have chronic illnesses or major physical disabilities — made her way up just to show her the way down wasn’t scary. Before Alex, Paige had never met another kid with cerebral palsy. Paige looked up to her; she was cool.

“It normalized it in such a huge way for Paige. Alex was able to make her feel seen in a way that none of us could have ever done,” Liz said.

Without hesitating, Paige jumped off and slid her way down the zip line after Alex.

BUILDING AN UNEXPECTED COMMUNITY

Throughout her life, Paige has dealt with a slew of diagnoses and countless visits to the hospital.

Born at only 28 weeks, Paige and her twin sister, Avery, spent three months at an area hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Avery experienced no health issues, but little Paige tackled a life-threatening brain bleed, brain surgery and a heart defect.

Her family then transitioned Paige’s care to Children's Health, which rapidly became a familiar place as physicians took over her complex case. “When we first came to Children's Health, I never felt like we were on our own or like the world was crashing down because the team was there with us every step of the way,” Liz said.

Among other health issues, physicians diagnosed Paige over the years with epilepsy; cerebral palsy, which causes trouble with movement, muscle tone and posture; and failure to thrive, or malnourishment. She also received treatment for a buildup of excess fluid in her brain that put it under pressure.

The experience was an overwhelming time for Paige’s family. But, without realizing it, they had developed a community that was there for them through their toughest moments. “A lot of us underestimate the value of our kids being around other kids with medical complexities or disabilities. To come to this place where all of us could get to know each other and build relationships with one another, it's really, really cool. It's something that means a lot to our family,” Liz said.

Some of the family’s longest days were spent at the hospital’s Feeding Program, an integral part of the Panda Cares Center for Hope Integrated Therapy Unit at Children's Health, which, thanks to generous philanthropy, is one of the country’s largest inpatient programs and the only multidisciplinary program in Texas that helps children of all ages who struggle to eat.

While working to achieve a healthy weight or during her overnight stays, Paige enjoyed getting to know other children and Children's Health team members, including Child Life specialists, who help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment. Child Life extends its offerings to patient families as well, providing emotional support and helping them cope with what they are experiencing. These services, which make life easier for kids and families experiencing the unthinkable, come at no cost to patient families and rely on philanthropic support.

A physician that Paige became especially attached to — who she called “Dr. Woody” because of the “Toy Story” sticker on his name tag — would pick up dolls and plush toys from the Child Life team to personally deliver to her. After dressing up in scrubs one day, she demanded he call her “Dr. Bo Peep” so they could work together, Liz said. The physician gave her one of his own stethoscopes to complete her outfit.

Her endearing disposition made her a memorable patient for many at Children's Health. When Paige would come into the hospital, word got around. Physicians and care team members who had previously met her would drop by and check in on her. “That's probably when we realized how much of a community we had built within Children's Health. We created a really tight-knit community,” Liz said.

WHOLE FAMILY CARE

Paige’s experiences have allowed her confidence to blossom. She’s also become more independent and learned to smile through the obstacles. When she grows up, she wants to be a paramedic or a doctor “at the balloon hospital.” “I want to work here when I grow up. Doctors are cool because they have stethoscopes. They help people if they’re sick,” Paige said.

Walking through the halls of Children's Health reminds Liz of how everyone at the hospital cared for her entire family. She fondly remembers the way Paige’s care team made sure to include Avery, when possible. “She felt like she was really special and a part of all of this too. To see them bring in our other daughter, who is not a patient… it meant so, so much to our family,” Liz said.

One memory stands out: The parade held in Paige’s honor for successfully completing the feeding program, which she rode through in a bright red wagon. Liz and Avery joined the staff and patients standing to the sides of the parade, holding pom-poms and wearing celebratory costumes and necklaces. Without Liz realizing it, a Child Life specialist scooped Avery up and placed her in the wagon, next to her sister, so they could celebrate Paige’s achievement together. “Of course, all of us are blubbering at this point. It was a really big moment for our family to see both of our kids getting to experience this,” Liz said.

Just like Paige, many children hold on to the hope of blossoming this spring. That’s why your donation matters so much. Your support helps Children's Health make the impossible possible for the next generation of kids so they can focus on being incredible.