Brooks was born in October of 2016, at 38 weeks. He spent 9 days in the NICU and at 7 days old, they received the news that his newborn screen came back positive for Cystic Fibrosis. This was later confirmed by a sweat test.

Brooks is enzyme deficient, so he has been taking enzymes since about a week of age. Without these enzymes, he would not be able to absorb his food. In addition to enzymes, Brooks also started on airway clearance techniques at about 3 weeks of age to help keep his lungs clear.

Brooks is now 3 years old. He is a typical crazy busy toddler who loves to play with his older brothers and puppies.

Natalie became one of fewer than 200 people in the world to be diagnosed with KBG syndrome. The disease affects every cell of her body, causing seizures and a wealth of other health concerns including a weakened immune system. She gets sick easier than other kids, and over the past year, has been admitted into Sanford Children's countless times.

Summer of 2017, the family had one of their scariest moments yet. Brianna remembers that one minute, Natalie was happily playing, and the next she was unresponsive, suffering from a severe infection. "Holding her in my arms, I truly felt like she was dying," Brianna said. "The horror of that feeling will never leave me."

Thankfully, expert care from the doctors and nurses at Sanford Children's saved Natalie's life, and she recovered. The family still find themselves traveling to Sanford Children's at least once a week. Natalie now has a port to make drawing blood and administering medication easier in the case of another medical emergency.

But none of that keeps Natalie from loving everyone she meets. Even when she's sick, she doesn't want to stay in her room. She wants to hang out at the nurses’ station and play with any doctor, and his or her stethoscope, she can find. Her big brother, Chis, also exceeds expectations. He’s a happy, energetic little boy who amazes Brianna with his bravery. He walks into each doctor's appointment without fear and sits so still when the nurses tell him to.

After multiple surgeries, surgeons were able to connect Saige’s stomach to the esophagus and close the fistula between the esophagus and windpipe. After many emergency room visits in 2016 and 2017, doctors were able to re-implant both of Saige’s ureters, and close her bladder. Since then she has not had any issues and even graduated from seeing her specialty doctor, by only going as needed or see him in a year.

Saige is a fighter and she continues to fight, her battles are not over but her family takes everything day-by-day and are thankful for every minute they get to spend together.

Since his diagnosis at age 5, Tysen underwent open heart reconstruction, multiple bladder surgeries and a full spinal fusion. Fortunately, the disease never touched Tysen’s mind, much less his unstoppable spirit. He truly influenced and inspired everyone he met.

Tysen lost most of his physical abilities and depended on others for nearly all his daily needs, from dressing and washing to transferring from his bed to a motorized chair.

Tysen started having a multitude issues as a result of his diagnoses and started seeing palliative care in February 2018. Though he was still the same sarcastic Tysen everyone knew and loved, his disease started causing him pain and uncertainty. After a surgery in March, Tysen developed pneumonia, causing complications and was put on hospice. After a hard fight and with his family by his side, Tysen earned his angel wings on March 10, 2018.

Avery has been doing physical therapy and occupational therapy since she came home from the Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She walks with a walker and if she is walking longer distances, uses a wheelchair. Avery loves hippotherapy and all things horses. She also loves swimming with Adaptive Aquatics!

Jared & Mindy are grateful for the meals that Children’s Miracle Network funds provided, as well as the state-of-the-art giraffe bed that Avery was in while in the Boekelheide NICU.

Because of this heart defect, he had 3 open heart surgeries by the age of 4. When Caleb was first born, he had his first heart surgery and was scheduled for a second surgery when his right artery started closing. He was then rushed to emergency surgery where he was opened up three different times in one day.

On August 27, 2014, after a long fight, Caleb earned his angel wings at 8 years old.

She is also strapped into a high-frequency chest wall oscillation vest every morning and every night. The vest helps break up mucus in her lungs and keeps her from choking on the fluid.

Even though her parents know the treatment is good for her, it’s still hard to watch their little girl go through it.

“It breaks your heart every time,” Collins’ father, Chris, said. “Even as somebody who knows this is good for her. You want to trade places with her. You wish it was you.”

“Removing the mucus from the airway keeps the patient’s lungs healthy longer,” said Collins' physician, Sanford pediatric pulmonologist Chuanpit Moser, M.D.

Through Collins' journey with cystic fibrosis, the family has been thankful to have expert care available close to home at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls.

“I feel like we have had so much support and just knowing that the programs are so close to home,” Collins' mom, Katie, said. “We know that if something serious were to happen, such as being in the hospital for a long period of time, we would have support from Sanford Children's when we need it.”

With that comfort and security, the family knows they’re going to be just fine with their tough little girl. “She’s the bravest, strongest person I know, and will continue to be that way,” Chris said.

Klara spent the next 151 days in the NICU at Sanford, receiving life-saving care. She had a breathing tube for the first 8 weeks of her life, and Jenn didn’t get to hold her until day 34, Derek held her first at day 54. She had many struggles including ROP eye ablation surgery with Dr. Tufty and a G-Tube/Nissen/Hernia repair with Dr. Rykman. Klara went home with oxygen, monitors, feeding tube feedings, medications, and many, many therapies and appointments. Although she continues with some medical issues and gross/fine motor delays, Klara is now a healthy, happy 4 year old – scoring well above the average in cognitive & social functions. Klara’s parents truly believe that Klara is alive and thriving because of the care, expertise, facilities and technology available at Sanford, due in large part to the partnership and support from CMN.

After several visits to the hospital, Lilly continued to get more and more lethargic, a rash spread to her whole body, she stopped eating and slept many hours of the day.

She was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Aberdeen and admitted to the Castle of Care for treatment.

Following her final open-heart surgery, Katelyn was diagnosed with an incredibly rare condition called plastic bronchitis, where the air space in her lungs had filled with a rubber-consistency matter. Physicians prepared Katelyn's family for the likelihood she would not survive the overwhelming condition, leaving them to pray for a miracle. And that's exactly what they got. Katelyn lived, and her case is now being written for submission in future medical journals.

In July 2015, Katelyn received surgery to close off a lymph node that was causing her plastic bronchitis, and she was cured! On March 16, 2017, Katelyn was having some slight breathing difficulties after having a fever for a few days. She earned her angel wings on her way to the hospital holding her mom’s hand.

The family feels they are seeing a bit of a bright horizon these past few months. They recently just started their care at Sanford, after ending up in Sanford ER in May 2018. Since that time, they transferred all their care to Sanford Children’s Hospital and most recently, had conversations with Dr. Pearce, the Executive Vice President of Innovation and Research at Sanford Health. He has taken their case on to better understand what is causing the seizures as a part of his rare disease group. They feel this and Sanford Health has been an answer to prayer. Autumn has changed her parent’s perspective on life. Even after all she has been through, her positivity is contagious and she makes a positive impact on anyone she meets.

Brooks was born in October of 2016, at 38 weeks. He spent 9 days in the NICU and at 7 days old, they received the news that his newborn screen came back positive for Cystic Fibrosis. This was later confirmed by a sweat test.

Brooks is enzyme deficient, so he has been taking enzymes since about a week of age. Without these enzymes, he would not be able to absorb his food. In addition to enzymes, Brooks also started on airway clearance techniques at about 3 weeks of age to help keep his lungs clear.

Brooks is now 3 years old. He is a typical crazy busy toddler who loves to play with his older brothers and puppies.

Radiation was the biggest battle. Tucker developed mouth sores so painful he refused to eat or drink. He couldn’t even suck on his pacifier for comfort.

Through all the helpless and frightening moments, the Castle has been a welcoming and comforting place for Tucker and his whole family. “It’s become like a second home for our family,” Kelsie said.

Tucker can laugh and play while his doctors and nurses give him a future without cancer. Everyone from the security guard to the Child Life Specialists makes each of the family’s visits feel like a homecoming.

In August of 2019, Tucker took his last of 42 chemotherapy treatments and was able to ring the bell signifying the end of his treatment!