36 Hours for Kids at St Luke’s Childrens Hospital

Annelise begins and ends each day like most teenagers. She brushes her teeth, makes her bed, and does her homework. But unlike other teens, she has to wear a special vest and inhale medications for 30 minutes twice each day to keep her lungs clear of mucus. Annelise has Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Annelise was diagnosed with CF when she was three years old. Immediately upon the diagnosis, the St. Luke’s team sprang into action. “Within one hour they had Annelise’s team assembled,” says her mom, Stacy, “and her digestive issues cleared up within just days. Her doctors and her team taught us everything we needed to know to keep her as healthy as possible.” Despite her frequent medical treatments and progressive disease, Annelise is determined to live life to the fullest. She is a smart, feisty cheerleader and soccer player who loves to shop, dance, and sing. Being active helps keep her body healthy and helps her avoid lengthy stays at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

Annelise represented Idaho as the 2013 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion.

While playing outside with her siblings, 7-year-old Brenna started to feel dizzy and weak. Her parents took her to the pediatrician and were devastated to learn their daughter had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 80 to 90 percent of her bone marrow cells were cancerous. Needles, blood transfusions and hospital stays became a regular part of life for Brenna. She missed a year of school, both soccer and basketball seasons, parties with friends, and even lost her hair. But Brenna did not lose hope.

Brenna’s strength, courage and optimism brought light to doctors, nurses and family members during a difficult time. They often said, “If Brenna can go through all she did, I can make it too.” Now 13, Brenna was the 2012 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion representing the state of Idaho and all of the children who are treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide.

Brenna currently goes back to MSTI Pediatrics every six months for regular blood checks. She has dealt with some severe bone density issues due to the Leukemia but her bones are getting stronger every day! Nothing slows her down! She is incredibly active and loves playing volleyball and basketball for the Ontario Middle School Tigers.

Jarrett and Prescott are brothers and frequent flyers at St. Luke's Children’s. Prescott is five years old and suffers from Mitochondrial Myopathy, a form of muscular dystrophy that affects his entire body. He has a feeding tube which helps to keep him healthy. He has seizures, high blood pressure, an immune deficiency, and some developmental delays. Jarrett is 13 and has high functioning autism and a gastroenterology disorder that has led to him having an appendicostomy tube. Jarrett also faces speech and swallowing difficulties, a sleep disorder called amblyopia, and asthma.

Prescott loves Mickey Mouse, trains, the color orange, and riding on carousels. Jarrett competes in clogging competitions and loves Boise State University. When he grows up, Jarrett would like to be a radiology technician.

Jarrett and Prescott live in the small town of Hansen, near Twin Falls. Last year, their family traveled more than 12,000 miles for medical appointments, surgeries, and procedures, with most of their trips to St. Luke's Children’s in Boise. Jarrett and Prescott both love St. Luke's and all of the staff and doctors who care for them.

Kean is one little guy who has lived up to his name. Kean means “fighter,” and boy, is he. His battle started before he even made it into this world.

Kean’s mom was put on bed rest at 24 weeks and waited 75 days for her son to arrive. Kean was born without the expected lung and heart issues, but he was diagnosed with Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, and spent his first 45 days in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Luke's. A month before his third birthday, Kean was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). His treatment plan calls for three years and eight weeks of chemotherapy, so Kean and his family spend a lot of time at MSTI Pediatrics and St. Luke's Children’s Hospital.

While Kean’s journey has not been easy, he has emerged as a brave, strong, and inspiring little boy who can conquer anything that comes his way.

Vann was born 15 weeks early at 25 weeks gestation and weighing only 1 pound, 13 ounces, making him a “micro preemie.” Within 72 hours in the St. Luke's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Vann was diagnosed with Grade II and Grade III intraventricular hemorrhages, or brain bleeds, and an issue with a blood vessel in his heart. Vann underwent brain surgery and heart surgery in his first two months, defying more challenging odds than most people have in their lifetime.

Vann spent 103 days in the NICU before being discharged on his original due date. Now six years old, Vann is a typical Kindergartner who loves to play with friends, ride his bike, and be outdoors. He dreams of being a doctor someday so he can help people just like the doctors at St. Luke's cared for him. And Vann’s St. Luke's story has had a lasting impact on his family as well – his mom Kara serves on the NICU Family Advisory Council and she is currently studying to become a NICU nurse.

Annelise’s journey with St. Luke’s Children’s began shortly after she was born. Over the course of her first six months, she was admitted a number of times for reflux, however; doctors quickly discovered she also had multiple heart defects. Annelise had a tube placed for feeding to get her to a healthy weight in preparation for heart surgery. This process took much longer than anticipated and in that time, Annelise was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) because her heart defects were taking a considerable toll on her little body. Before heart surgery could happen, she needed another surgery to keep from refluxing and a G-tube placement for feeding. Surgical site complications stalled the process further. In the end, Annelise spent about three months in the PICU before being transferred to Denver for surgery. Almost six weeks later, still healing from the previous surgery, she finally had the successful ASD, VSD and PDA repair of her precious little heart!

Annelise is now thriving. Along her journey, Annelise found a family of highly skilled sub-specialty physicians and nurses at St. Luke’s to manage her heart, lungs, thyroid, eyes, and stomach. She also found her adoptive and forever family!