2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Champion as seven-year-old Whitleigh.
Children’s Hospital at Erlanger announces the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Champion as seven-year-old Whitleigh.
Officials said, "Each year, Children's Hospital at Erlanger and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals celebrate the life-saving pediatric services offered right here in the Chattanooga region by sharing unique patient stories. These patients serve as ambassadors and are known as 'Miracle Kids.' Their stories of survival highlight the services, compassionate care and miraculous recoveries that happen daily at Children's Hospital at Erlanger.
"Shortly after she was born, Whitleigh was diagnosed with a health defect known as VACTREL Association (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, trachea-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies and limb abnormalities).
People diagnosed with this association typically have at least three of the defects; Whitleigh was born with all of them. Her first surgery was at 48 hours old. She spent 30 days in the NICU and had a series of tests, a blood transfusion and many more surgeries. The medical teams at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger helped save her life on several occasions and cautioned the family that Whitleigh would probably never walk or talk. Amazingly, she surpassed all expectations and is walking, talking, dancing and turning one-hand cartwheels."
“Whitleigh has such an inspiring story of hope. By serving as our Miracle Champion, she along with her family can help educate and encourage others about the compassionate and quality care given at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger,” said Andrea Lyons, director of development, Children’s Miracle Network and Corporate Partners.