Emilie & Haylie's Story

Emilie: Age 8
Haylie: Age 7

Children's Hospital Colorado

Heart Conditions; Cleft Palate

While Emilie instructs her imaginary class, Haylie pushes her Barbie vehicle down the hall. Haylie bumps into Emilie’s leg and the two erupt into laughter. These sisters have faced many roadblocks together.

In 2007, while doctors were repairing a large hole in Emilie’s heart, Haylie was born with a cleft palate and heart and lung issues. The sisters fought together, forming a strong bond from the start.

They continue to face their treatments with positive outlooks. Haylie is always still for her doctors as they adjust and replace her ear tubes. Emilie donated her lovely hair in hopes of helping someone else.

Emilie and Haylie will always be constant companions, never forgetting the struggles and pains they faced together at an early age. They’re buckled in and ready to hit life’s road of adventures together.

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Champions

Champions is a Children's Miracle Network Hospitals program that brings attention to the important work being done at its 170 children’s hospitals. It does this by honoring 54 remarkable kids who have faced severe medical challenges, and helping them tell their stories.

The Champions program designates a child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The Champions represent the 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals every year. The 2012 Champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including genetic diseases, organ transplants and traumas, as well as various types of cancer.

The Champions travel for a week in September, first to Washington, D.C., where they traditionally meet with their state representatives on Capitol Hill and visit the White House. They then take a private chartered flight, provided by Delta Air Lines, to Orlando, Fla. While there, Champions meet Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals corporate partners, hospital representatives and media partners. These groups convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort.