Each month, CDTC staff nominate one of our children as our Hero of the Month. Each of these special boys and girls are heroes in our eyes. They show strength, perseverance, determination and a positive outlook while facing great challenges.
Their stories are powerful and heartwarming and reflect the impact CDTC and you, our community, has on their daily lives.
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Our Heroes
Nothing Holds Maryam Back
Maryam was born with a bump on her tummy. The birth defect created a pouch that held her abdominal organs outside of her body. The moment the CDTC Care Team met the three-year-old in 2015, they knew her case would be complicated. She could not eat or breathe...
Melissa is an Early Steps Hero!
Melissa’s pediatrician recommended that she participate in the Early Steps Program when she was 18 months old. He was concerned about her communication skills and possible autism. Her parents shared at intake that she was not using any words to communicate and she...
CDTC’s Miracle
Miracle came to CDTC when she was 24 weeks-old. She left the NICU with a g-tube to ensure she would get the fluid and calories she needed to grow. She also had deformities in her feet. She received early intervention services through the Early Steps program and is...
CDTC HEROES OSIRIS & ODIN
Twin brothers Osiris and Odin came to CDTC when they were a few months old. Born at only 28 weeks, the premature babies needed medical care and early intervention services. Both were having feeding issues. Both needed extensive medical follow-up. Without help, they...
CDTC December 2017 Hero of the Month – Sagota
Sagota was born into a world filled with challenges. Doctors diagnosed her with Vater Syndrome, a combination of several birth defects that frequently occur together and affect multiple areas of the body. Sagota’s physical and genetic anomalies required more than 12...
“When I think what a hero is, it comes down to being brave. Leia’s family is brave. Despite all the challenges and setbacks with her development, they’ve never given up. They have always kept going with what they’ve learnt. Leia is such an amazing little girl that has...
Going from Fear to Hugs Makes Twins Our Heroes
From Worst Fears to Warm Hugs – Twins Become CDTC Heroes Twins Jemi and Jemmy first visited CDTC’s Dentist, Dr. Alonso, for a routine cleaning when the clinic opened in 2014. They were just 3 years old at the time. The boys gave new meaning to being scared of...
Finding the Positive When Your Different
Michael is a 13-year-old boy who lives with his mother, father and little sister. Mom and Dad could not wait for Michael to be born. When Michael arrived, his parents learned he had amniotic band syndrome. For Michael, the bands that cut off his blood supply in utero...
Solana Finds Health and a Future of Possibilities
Solana was born in Argentina in 2006 with a diagnosis of Neutropenia, which is an abnormally low concentration of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood. As a result, Solana was at great risk of infection on a daily basis. This prevented her from any...
Caitlan’s Accomplishments Makes Us Proud
Caitlan Surgeon was born in 1998. Life was not easy for her family. Her young mother, Josephine, raised Caitlan on her own with a little support from Caitlan’s father. The duo overcame challenges with their health as well as housing, immigration, employment and times...
Ebony prepares for a future on her own.
18-year-old Ebony is no stranger to struggle. A CDTC patient since 1999, she’s been part of our family for nearly all her life. She started the TAFT program two months ago. And, as she begins her journey into adulthood, her health and medical issues are just one small...
CDTC April Hero of the Month
Meet Pierce Pierce is an adorable ex-preemie born seven weeks early. His parents brought him to Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center’s Early Steps Program with developmental and communication concerns when he was 15 months old. The Multidisciplinary team...