Category Featured

ABCs of Andrés

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Andrés was adopted from Bogotá, Colombia, when he was 21 months old, but that was the least astonishing part of his journey. Katie and James expected a six-week trip to the South American country, but weeks turned into months, as…

Every Light for Everleigh

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Every year on rare disease day, every front porch in a small Minnesota town is illuminated by purple lights…and every light is for Everleigh. Everleigh, or Evie, was born early by caesarean section—36 weeks and six days. As far as…

Waylon’s Will

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Waylon was born 10 weeks early at 1 pound, 8 ounces, and 12 inches long. He had already persevered; now he needed to grow. When Kari and Josh learned she was pregnant with their third child, they approached it differently;…

Precious Opal and Owen

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Parents rarely feel prepared for twins. They feel even less prepared when the twins are born four months early. Ashley and DJ were ecstatic when they found out she was pregnant. They were even more ecstatic when they found out…

Marching to Bianca’s Beats

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As Laura glanced at her phone, it started ringing… It was their doctor’s personal cell phone. “We just accepted a heart for Bianca.” The call ended a three-year journey for Bianca…and started the rest of her life. Life was relatively…

Aloha Anna

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It’s a Minnesota family’s dream: a Hawaiian vacation to escape the winter cold. But for Jill and Greg…it quickly turned into a scary and stressful reality. Greg’s parents were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary and paid for all their kids…

All of Alejandro

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Despite being born at 34 weeks, Alejandro was normal size and had no lingering medical concerns. Seven months later…he was on his way to the United States. “As his mom, I could feel it,” said Adriana. “Something was wrong.” Doctors…

Ethan: More Than Meets the Eye

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Surprises are generally good, but when Ethan was born…it was a challenging surprise for him and his parents. “You can’t see it on an ultrasound,” said Kim, Ethan’s mom. Doctors in our hospital had never seen anything like it. No…

Joyful Javohn

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Javohn and his dad, Thomas, did not expect such a long and difficult journey. But after two tumors and one year of radiation and chemotherapy…it is almost time for Javohn to rejoin his five siblings in Belize. “He is a…