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Boston<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Place">
<span itemprop="name">Boston</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston" />
</span> Children<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Children</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child" />
</span>'s Hospital<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Hospital</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital" />
</span>
The power
of you
Your gifts<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">gifts</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift" />
</span> help the world's sickest children thrive
The power of you
Your gifts help the world's sickest children thrive
See the lifesaving care<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">care</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_care" />
</span>, kindness and breakthroughs,
made possible by your generosity.
The gift of resilience
Feisty and joyfully determined, Brigid has confronted and overcome every obstacle in her path'a serious infection<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">infection</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infection" />
</span> before birth, a liver transplant<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalProcedure">
<span itemprop="name">liver transplant</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_transplantation" />
</span> in infancy and hearing loss<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">hearing loss</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss" />
</span>.
The gift of success
A teen<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">teen</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence" />
</span> with a passion for elevators, Dante<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization">
<span itemprop="name">Dante</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DANTE" />
</span> routinely compromised his care by slipping away from his hospital room for a joyride ? until Behavior Analyst Olivia Miller<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Olivia Miller</span>
</span> joined his care team.
The gift of connection
A 3-year-old with cerebral palsy<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">cerebral palsy</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy" />
</span>, River loves watching her younger brothers play. And when they get into trouble, laughter erupts'making it difficult to halt their misbehavior.
The gift of answers
After a lengthy diagnostic<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">diagnostic</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_diagnosis" />
</span> odyssey, Erin and Andy learned both of their daughters have a rare genetic<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">genetic</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics" />
</span> disorder. Despite challenges, the girls<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">girls</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl" />
</span> are full of life, and Erin sees a bright future ahead.
Meet Lily and Elise
The gift of exuberance
?I'm faster than you are,? exclaims Adrian, whizzing by in his wheelchair. A kindergartner with a magnetic<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">magnetic</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetism" />
</span> personality<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">personality</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality" />
</span>, Adrian loves to race his friends'an activity that seemed impossible a few years ago.
The gift of ambition
Alannah, age 8, has big goals. ?I want to be a doctor<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">doctor</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Medicine" />
</span> or a YouTube<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization">
<span itemprop="name">YouTube</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube" />
</span> star when I grow up'or maybe both,? she says. Learning<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Learning</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning" />
</span> to live well with diabetes<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">diabetes</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus" />
</span> has given her a strong foundation for success.
The gift of voice
After years of debilitating anxiety<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">anxiety</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety" />
</span>, Ava found her voice. Today, she's a champion for young people facing similar struggles.
The gift of enthusiasm<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">enthusiasm</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthusiasm" />
</span>
Striding through the doors<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">doors</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door" />
</span> at Boston Children's, 11-year-old Jackson exclaims, ?I love this place.? His unflagging enthusiasm brings smiles to his family, doctors and friends.
See the lifesaving care, kindness and breakthroughs, made possible by your generosity.
The gift of resilience
Feisty and joyfully determined, Brigid has confronted and overcome every obstacle in her path'a serious infection before birth, a liver transplant in infancy and hearing loss.
The gift of success
A teen with a passion for elevators, Dante routinely compromised his care by slipping away from his hospital room for a joyride ? until behavior analyst Olivia Miller<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Olivia Miller</span>
</span> joined his care team.
The gift of connection
A 3-year-old with cerebral palsy, River loves watching her younger brothers play. And when they get into trouble, laughter erupts'making it difficult to halt their misbehavior.
The gift of answers
After a lengthy diagnostic odyssey, Erin and Andy learned both of their daughters have a rare genetic disorder. Despite challenges, the girls are full of life, and Erin sees a bright future ahead.
Meet Lily and Elise
You changed lives today.
A world of possibility awaits.
The gift of exuberance
?I'm faster than you are,? exclaims Adrian, whizzing by in his wheelchair. A kindergartner with a magnetic personality, Adrian loves to race his friends'an activity that seemed impossible a few years ago.
The gift of ambition
Alannah, age 8, has big goals. ?I want to be a doctor or a YouTube star when I grow up'or maybe both,? she says. Learning to live well with diabetes has given her a strong foundation for success.
The gift of voice
After years of debilitating anxiety, Ava found her voice. Today, she's a champion for young people facing similar struggles.
The gift of enthusiasm
Striding through the doors at Boston Children's, 11-year-old Jackson exclaims, ?I love this place.? His unflagging enthusiasm brings smiles to his family, doctors and friends.
The gift of tomorrow
Here's how you helped.
700
patients in clinical trials<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">clinical trials</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_trial" />
</span>
1
Sandra L. Fenwick<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Sandra L. Fenwick</span>
</span> Institute<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Organization">
<span itemprop="name">Institute</span>
</span> for Pediatric Health<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Health</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health" />
</span> Equity & Inclusion
1,929
organ<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">organ</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammond_organ" />
</span> transplants since 1971
22,000
primary care patients routinely screened for mental health<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">mental health</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health" />
</span> needs<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">needs</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need" />
</span>
Countless
lives transformed
You changed lives today. A world of possibility awaits.
?Jodi, a mom<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">mom</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother" />
</span> from New York
The gift of joy<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">joy</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy" />
</span>
The families<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">families</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(biology)" />
</span> in our care come to Boston Children's seeking the world's best science<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">science</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science" />
</span> and medicine<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">medicine</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine" />
</span>.
Some are looking for a diagnosis that explains their child's confusing symptoms<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">symptoms</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symptom" />
</span>. Others are seeking a surgeon<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">surgeon</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgery" />
</span> with sure hands and a compassionate heart. Still others are hoping for a medicine to undo the damage of rare genetic condition.
With your thoughtful partnership<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">partnership</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partnership" />
</span>, Boston Children's is meeting these mission-critical needs.
And through your generosity, patient<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">patient</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient" />
</span> families find even more at Boston Children's'a home away from home, a new community, a future bursting with possibility. Joy.
Because of you, countless children are experiencing life to the fullest. Thank you.
Your support means the world to us !
Kevin B. Churchwell<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Kevin B. Churchwell</span>
</span>, MD
President and CEO
Boston Children’s Hospital 
stay connected
Your support means the world to us. We want to cover the stories and breakthroughs that matter most to you. Please click below for more news and inspiration.
401 Park Drive<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Park Drive</span>
</span>, Suite 602<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Suite 602</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care" />
</span>
Boston Children’s Hospital Main Site
Brigid
At 5, Brigid decided she could ?sit all by myself,? during her routine labwork. After the appointment, she confided, ?I was nervous, but that was a blast.?
Brigid contracted a virus<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
<span itemprop="name">virus</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus" />
</span> in utero and was born prematurely. A 79-day NICU<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">NICU</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonatal_intensive_care_unit" />
</span> stay followed, but the infection had damaged her liver beyond repair, and she was listed for a transplant on the national organ registry. Within days, her parents learned another family had made the selfless donation that could give their daughter a future.
Brigid started to thrive after the transplant, but she had a long way to go, says her mother Melissa. Her trademark resilience has served her well.
Born<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">Born</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth" />
</span> deaf in her right ear, Brigid had a cochlear implant<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalProcedure">
<span itemprop="name">cochlear implant</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_(medicine)" />
</span> inserted to partially restore hearing<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">hearing</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing" />
</span>. She later lost hearing in her left ear and had a second implant. Since then, Brigid has found her voice. She's discovered singing and reading and happily broadcasts her ideas.
The pandemic has posed new challenges. Brigid relies on immunosuppressants to prevent transplant rejection, making her more susceptible to infection. Plus, masks can hinder communication for the hard of hearing. Melissa and her husband Laurence work closely with Boston Children's experts to make decisions about school<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">school</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School" />
</span> and other activities.
Meanwhile, Brigid has taken it all in stride. Last fall, she marked another accomplishment'her fourth year as a Miles for Miracles Boston Marathon patient partner. ?It's empowering for her to be part of a team supporting the hospital,? says Melissa.
As Melissa and Laurence anticipate their daughter's future, they hope Brigid continues to blossom as an advocate for herself, for the deaf and hard of hearing community and for Boston Children's patients.
Dante
When Dante, who has autism<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">autism</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism" />
</span>, started suffering<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">suffering</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffering" />
</span> from seizures, his doctors ordered inpatient testing to better understand his condition. But the teen kept leaving his room to ride the elevator, making it impossible to successfully complete his exam.
Enter Miller. She worked with Dante's care team and mom, Tina, to design a personalized behavior plan to motivate her patient. When Dante completed a task, such as keeping his electrode cap on or staying in his room, he could collect a ticket<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">ticket</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_(admission)" />
</span> and take a trip to the elevator.
The plan worked. Dante earned eight tickets. His physicians captured critical data<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">data</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network" />
</span> on his seizures. And word<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">word</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word" />
</span> of an elevator-loving patient started to spread around the hospital.
Nine months later, Dante needed additional inpatient testing. Miller knew the stay would be especially challenging in the COVID environment. Wanting to position Dante for success, she enlisted colleagues around the hospital to help Dante meet his goals.
Engineering staff created a book about Boston Children's elevators for their biggest fan and persuaded their partners at Stanley Elevator<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Person">
<span itemprop="name">Stanley Elevator</span>
</span> to send Dante some swag.
Miller also tapped into his love for music<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">music</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music" />
</span>, recruiting a music therapist to compose lyrics incorporating the behavior plan to Dante's favorite song, ?Old Town Road.?
The interventions paid off, helping doctors as they continue to unravel the cause of Dante's seizures. Meanwhile, Olivia will continue devising plans to help other kids meet their care goals, and Dante can be found in his favorite elevator t-shirt crooning his song.
660+
patients with autism received specialized behavioral<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">behavioral</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviorism" />
</span> support in 2022
River
River's giggles are more than mischievousness, says mom Courtney. They reflect her strong desire to connect with those around her. Relationships motivate the toddler<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">toddler</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toddler" />
</span>, and she has her own unique ways of building<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">building</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building" />
</span> bonds with others.
River cannot speak, sit, stand or walk without support. When she was 2 months old, she began receiving early intervention<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">intervention</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_intervention" />
</span> services, including physical, occupational and speech therapy<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">speech therapy</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech-language_pathology" />
</span>, from Boston Children's. The sessions have given River the tools'and more importantly, the confidence'to engage with the world.
Today, River communicates in her own way. She uses her eyes and, more recently, buttons she can reach with her hands, to indicate choices. She relishes the daily challenges of her inclusive preschool classroom.
In a recent Zoom class, River held a crayon in her hands, coloring as she moved it back and forth on a piece of paper<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">paper</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper" />
</span>. It was an incredible moment, says Courtney. ?She was so proud of herself.?
When she's not encouraging her brothers' antics, River chases the rush of adrenaline. In a swing, she wants to go as high and fast as possible. She loves spinning around in a chair<span itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Thing">
<span itemprop="name">chair</span>
<link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor" />
</span> and gliding down a slide.
Courtney sees parallels between her daughter's incredible tenacity for life and the natural phenomenon whose name she shares. Undaunted by obstacles, both are on a journey'delighting those nearby as they chase an unseen destination.