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Meet our Miracle Families
Miracle Families are local children and their families who have faced serious pediatric illnesses or injuries and serve as the heart, inspiration, and personal connection behind Dance Marathon programs. For us at the U, our families have been treated at Primary Children's Hospital in SLC!
Meet Kendalyn
Kendalyn was born six weeks prematurely and has been a fighter since. She faced immediate feeding struggles and every bottle was accompanied with swelling, pain, and tears. Doctors at Primary Children's Hospital soon diagnosed her with Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction, a severe condition that inhibits food from moving through her intestines. Over the years, her diagnoses grew to include chronic pancreatitis, lung disease, and neurogenic bladder, requiring surgeries and an ileostomy bag she lovingly named "Lulu." Now 11, Kendalyn loves ballet, robotics club, her service dog Reggie and teaching her classmates about her medical complexities with confidence.
Read Kendalyn's full story on the CMN website here!
To watch Kendalyn's story, click here!
Cole was diagnosed with spina bifida in utero, a congenital anomaly that impacts the spine and spinal cord. Cole’s condition affects the use of his legs and bladder. His mom, Joann, underwent surgery while pregnant to repair Cole’s spine. Six weeks after surgery, Cole was born at just 32 weeks and spent two months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Today, Cole loves telling jokes, making Yoda impressions, and laughing, even in the hospital. He truly spreads light everywhere he goes! With his custom wheelchair, Cole skis, plays basketball, enjoys Café Rio quesadillas, and lives life to the fullest.
Read Cole's full story on the CMN website here!
To watch Cole's story, click here!
Meet Cole
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