2026 Children's Health Patient Ambassadors

Meet our 2026 Children’s Health℠ Patient Ambassadors! This group of incredible patients are advocates for Children’s Health through sharing their stories of resilience and hope at events and campaigns. They educate others about their journeys, and they also have the opportunity to fundraise for an area of Children’s Health that is meaningful to them. Together, they help make life better for kids just like them.

If you are a grateful patient family interested in becoming a part of next year's patient ambassador class, please share your story and our team will get back with you as soon as possible.

A collection of the 2026 Children’s Health℠ Patient Ambassadors. This group of incredible patients are advocates for Children’s Health.

AJ
Diagnosis: Autism; pediatric feeding disorder; ADHD
Location: Dallas
When AJ was younger, his feeding disorder made it difficult for him to eat almost anything, which impacted his growth and nutrition. After attending the feeding therapy program at Children’s Health, he’s developed a better relationship with food.
Meet AJ
Avery
Diagnosis: History of ependymoma (brain tumor)
Location: Dallas
When Avery was diagnosed with a brain tumor, his care team at Children’s Health℠ became a deep source of strength — and lasting memories.
Meet Avery
Bo
Diagnosis: Meningitis
Location: Dallas
After other hospitals failed to provide answers, Bo’s family rushed him to Children’s Health℠. His care team listened to the then-10-year-old, which helped them discover an infection in Bo’s brain that led to four surgeries.
Meet Bo
Clark
Diagnosis: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)
Location: Dallas
Clark’s fight for survival led to a milestone moment in NICU care — and his family’s lifelong gratitude.
Meet Clark
Coco
Diagnosis: Congenital heart defects
Location: Dallas
Coco’s care team at Children’s Health used leading-edge technology to plan her complex heart care months before she was born. Today, she’s getting into the routine of going to preschool.
Meet Coco
Dallas
Diagnosis: Lymphangioma
Location: Dallas
Although Dallas has spent countless hours at Children’s Health to receive treatments for a rare condition, he mostly remembers the fun he had at the hospital and the heroes he met along his care journey.
Meet Dallas
Emma
Diagnosis: Hirschsprung's Disease
Location: Dallas
Six-year-old Emma spends her time focused on gymnastics, music and first grade — knowing her care team is there if she needs them.
Meet Emma
Evelyn
Diagnosis: Group A Streptococcus necrotizing fasciitis
Location: Dallas
The kindness and care Evelyn received at Children’s Health inspired her to spread that same compassionate care to other kids when she grows up.
Meet Evelyn
Frank
Diagnosis: Congenital heart defects
Location: Dallas
When faced with an urgent need for a rare, complex surgery to repair their son’s heart, Frank’s family was grateful the surgery was available nearby.
Meet Frank
Grayson
Diagnosis: Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome
Location: Dallas
2-year-old Grayson spends several days a week at Children’s Health undergoing treatment for a rare kidney condition. His family is grateful for a place where he’s always felt welcomed and loved.
Meet Grayson
Heidi
Diagnosis: Injury from sledding accident
Location: Dallas
What started off as a fun day in the snow turned into one of the scariest moments in Heidi and her family’s life. After her accident, her dedicated care team at Children’s Health helped her learn how to walk, eat and talk again.
Meet Heidi
Jace
Diagnosis: Chronic Constipation
Location: Plano
Living with no sacrum means a lot of medications and difficulty going to the bathroom. But Jace has learned what his body requires — from a care team who has inspired him to want to help other kids in the hospital.
Meet Jace
KK
Diagnosis: AML
Location: Dallas
When KK learned of her leukemia diagnosis at Children’s Health, she felt overcome by a “wave of acceptance.” But with her family, care team and the health system’s leading-edge research on her side, she wasn’t ready to give up.
Meet KK
Micah
Diagnosis: Heart transplant
Location: Dallas
After finding out he needed a heart transplant, 13-year-old Micah set out to make sure teens facing transplant have all the support they need.
Meet Micah
Noa
Diagnosis: Chronic lung disease; subglottic stenosis grade 3
Location: Dallas
Noa has needed medical help to breathe since she was born, but thanks to expert care from Children’s Health, she can now breathe on her own and do things her family couldn’t have imagined before.
Meet Noa
Octavia
Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma
Location: Dallas/Plano
Although Octavia faced a rare childhood cancer, she always found opportunities to add some sparkle and fun to her time at Children’s Health.
Meet Octavia
Penny
Diagnosis: Heart transplant
Location: Dallas
Penny has always led life with passion and a lot of heart — despite being born with only half a functional heart.
Meet Penny
Victor
Diagnosis: DiGeorge Syndrome; Tetralogy of Fallot; pulmonary hypertension
Location: Dallas
Thanks to his parents, sisters and compassionate care team at Children’s Health, Victor has a bright future.
Meet Victor
Wyatt
Diagnosis: B-cell ALL
Location: Dallas
Despite facing chemotherapy treatment for his leukemia, Wyatt has taught his family that there’s no reason to stop living.
Meet Wyatt
Watson
Diagnosis: Complex care
Location: Dallas / Plano
Born at just 25 weeks, weighing less than a pound, Watson has overcome every obstacle with strength, courage and a contagious smile.
Meet Watson

Patient Ambassador Alumni

Aaron
Diagnosis: Alagille syndrome, liver transplant
Location: Dallas
Growing up, Aaron spent a lot of time in hospitals. His diagnosis remained a mystery to his family for years, until one doctor found he had been born with Alagille syndrome.
Meet Aaron
Abbey and Aiden
Diagnosis: Hyperthyroidism and migraines
Diagnosis: Chronic Kidney Disease
Location: Dallas
When two separate diagnoses hit siblings around the same time, Children's Health was there to stabilize both kids - and the entire family.
Meet Abbey and Aiden
Aarini
Diagnosis: Asthma
After an asthma attack almost took her life as a kindergartener, Aarini is giving back to Children's Health through her art and by talking about her experience.
Meet Aarini
Adalynn
Diagnosis: Intractable constipation and colonic dysmotility
"Before Children's Health, Adalynn was sick and throwing up and nobody could explain it. The doctors at Children's Health did the research and testing and kept fighting to figure out why she was getting so sick. We would not be here if it was not for Children's Health."
Meet Adalynn
Alexis
Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia
When her leukemia returned, Alexis' brother stepped in with her last hope for a cure.
Meet Alexis
Amairy
Diagnosis: Clear cell sarcoma of kidney
When you first meet Amairy, now 6, she can be shy, but her reserved nature certainly doesn't define her. She's even been known to have two-hour dance parties with her child life specialist.
Meet Amairy
Ameila
Diagnosis: Congenital Heart Defect and Cerebral Palsy
Amelia wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She wants to help people, just like the physicians and nurses at Children's Health have helped her since she was a baby.
Meet Amelia
Amulya
Diagnosis: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Location: Dallas
When a rare nerve disorder caused paralysis in her body and face, Amulya and her family turned to Children’s Health to get her back on her feet and regain her smile.
Meet Amulya
Anabelle
Diagnosis: Cerebral Aneurysm
Location: Dallas
A ruptured, 3-millimeter brain aneurysm wiped Anabelle’s memory and personality. Her family and Children’s Health care team stood by her as she recovered.
Meet Anabelle
Annabella
Diagnosis: Liver Transplant
For the past 6 years, Annabella and her family have sponsored and decorated a Christmas tree that brightens the lobby of the Solid Organ Transplant Center at the Children’s Health℠ Dallas Campus.
Meet Annabella
Autumn
Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma
Ava
Diagnosis: Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome
After a devastating diagnosis at her birth, Ava has defied the odds thanks to the support of her healthcare providers at Children's Health.
Meet Ava
Axel
Diagnosis: Solid Organ Transplant, Liver
Born with Alagille syndrome -- a rare, life-threatening liver disease, Axel found a new chance at life through his liver transplant at Children's Health.
Meet Axel
Azai
Diagnosis: Congenital heart defect
Location: Dallas
After their daughter was born with a congenital heart defect, Tara and Daniel thanked her care team the best way they knew how: an investment in the future of Children’s Health.
Meet Azai
Beckett
Diagnosis: Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Location: Plano
Beckett’s family held onto hope when he was diagnosed with a rare and complex cancer at 19 months old. Now, he’s 4 and taking the world by storm.
Meet Beckett
Brantley
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Brandi found out that her son, Brantley, had this congenital heart defect when she was only 16 weeks pregnant. She knew that he would face tough challenges.
Meet Brantley
Tanner and Caleb
Diagnosis: Cystic Fibrosis
Brothers Tanner and Caleb are like a lot of siblings. They tease and fight - all in good natured brotherly love. And they're also each other's biggest defenders.
Tanner and Caleb
Camille
Diagnosis: Type 1 Diabetes
Diagnosed three years ago with type 1 diabetes, Camille is balancing life as a student athlete and proud participant in a T1D clinical research study.
Meet Camille
Charleigh
Diagnosis: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Charley
Diagnosis: Kidney Transplant
Charley was born with one healthy kidney, but two transplants later, she's a healthy 13-year old thankful for her care team at Children's Health.
Meet Charley
Chi-Heng
Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Clayton
Diagnosis: Wilms tumor
Clayton's diagnosis began during a trip to the pediatrician, prompted because they noticed his belly was distended and beginning to protrude more to one side.
Meet Clayton
Clayton
Diagnosis: Hepatoblastoma, liver transplant
Location: Dallas
When the then-3-year-old and his family received the diagnosis, Children’s Health was there to care for their physical, emotional and mental needs.
Meet Clayton
Cori
Diagnosis: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Location: Dallas
When 2-year-old Cori suddenly lost movement, her mom fought for answers. A rare diagnosis, a first-of-its-kind treatment—now, Cori has a second chance.
Meet Cori
Dallas
Diagnosis: Heart transplant
Location: Dallas and Cityville
Dallas, born with three heart conditions, found hope at Children’s Health in his namesake city. A new heart at 12 lets him thrive.
Meet Dallas
Dawson
Diagnosis: Group B Burkitt Lymphoma
Location: Plano
Physicians at his local hospital couldn’t figure out the cause of Dawson’s tummy ache. A two-hour drive to Children’s Health provided the family with the answers and care they needed.
Meet Dawson
Davi
Diagnosis: Congenital Heart Defect
Davi was born with a congenital heart defect and has a superpower of making the world feel like Candyland - happy, sweet and colorful.
Meet Davi
David
Diagnosis: Biliary Atresia
David was diagnosed with biliary atresia at just a few weeks old. Expert care has helped him grow up with big dreams and a bright future.
Meet David
Dirk
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Drew
Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma
Drew can no longer play high-impact sports like soccer, baseball or basketball. He can’t risk an impact to his jaw, which was weakened by a rare form of cancer. But he can put up the fight of a lifetime.
Meet Drew
Easton
Diagnosis: Heart defect
Location: Dallas
Born with congenital heart defects, Easton spent most of his first year of life at Children’s Health. His care team members helped his family feel at home at the hospital and inspired them to give back.
Meet Easton
Edison
Diagnosis: Cerebral Palsy
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the team at Children’s Health supported Edison to ‘be the boy he wants to be.’
Meet Edison
Eleanor
Diagnosis: Congenital Heart Defect
The first thing that Laura and Raul remember about their infant daughter Eleanor — after the open-heart surgery that saved her life — were her pink toes.
Meet Eleanor
Elli
Elli was two days old when Jennifer and Angie met her on Nov. 17, 2018. She weighed four pounds, five ounces and had a head of wispy dark hair.
Meet Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Diagnosis: Cardiology, pulmonology and gastroenterology
Location: Dallas
Born with a group of birth defects undetected in utero, Elizabeth wasn’t getting better and was running out of options when her family called Children’s Health
Meet Elizabeth
Emma
Diagnosis: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Thanks to her daily medications, Emma, 15, lives a pretty typical life. Her eclectic interests range from making soap and bath bombs to reading and archery.
Meet Emma
Grace
Diagnosis: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Location: Dallas and Plano
Born with a rare heart condition, Grace has faced multiple surgeries—but with expert care, she’s now thriving, singing, and wakesurfing.
Meet Grace
Hank
Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma
More than a year ago, Hank finished his last round of chemotherapy. Team members celebrated the milestone with a Spiderman-themed party full of superhero costumes and a banner that read “Peace Out Chemo.”
Meet Hank
Isacc
Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Diagnosed with leukemia just before his third birthday, Isacc's care is now overseen by the growing oncology team at Children’s Medical Center Plano.
Meet Isacc
Isaí
Diagnosis: Traumatic head injury
Location: Dallas
A birthday party turned into a life-changing moment for Isai—but his journey of strength and healing is nothing short of inspiring.
Meet Isaí
Jairo
Diagnosis: Cystic Fibrosis
Location: Dallas
Jairo's mom, a Spanish speaker, felt overwhelmed by his diagnosis. Children's Health language services gave her confidence in his care.
Meet Jairo
Ja'Niyah
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Jocelyn
Diagnosis: Aplastic anemia
Her aplastic anemia came on suddenly and intensely. The previously energetic sixth-grader began experiencing crushing fatigue, bouts of bleeding from her gums and frequent blood transfusions.
Meet Jocelyn
Kadence
Diagnosis: Birth Brain Defect
“My granddaughter is everything to me. I wanted the best for her, and I knew Children’s Health had the expertise to give us answers and get Kadence on a healthier path,” Kadence's grandmother Deondriea said.
Meet Kadence
Kaleb
Diagnosis: Congenital Heart Disease
Living with heterotaxy syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can affect the development of important systems like the heart and gastrointestinal tract, Kaleb wouldn't be here without our innovative team at Children's Health.
Meet Kaleb
Kasen
Diagnosis: Leukemia
After spiking a 106 degree fever and having uncontrolled vomiting, Kasen was rushed to Children's Health Plano. Within three days, he had started chemotherapy for leukemia.
Meet Kasen
Kennedy
Diagnosis: Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Location: Dallas
Kennedy’s strength and coordination faded fast—but a team of experts at Children’s Health worked to find answers and a new treatment.
Meet Kennedy
Leone
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Leone's parents dress up as superheroes during his treatments at Children's Medical Center Dallas to make him feel like he can defeat anything - even cancer.
Meet Leone
Levi
Diagnosis: Medulloblastoma, type 1 diabetes
Location: Dallas
After battling type 1 diabetes & brain cancer twice, 12-year-old Levi keeps finding the silver lining—with a little help from furry friends.
Meet Levi
Lincoln
Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma
The moment when Lincoln's tumor grew - so big that he couldn't breathe through his mouth and struggled to breathe through his nose -- was one of the scariest for Lincoln's parents, Shelly and Chris.
Meet Lincoln
Lincoln
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
At age 2, Lincoln was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a fast-growing cancer that begins in the bone marrow and spreads out to the body through the blood.
Meet Lincoln
Maddie Jo
Diagnosis: Lymphedema of lower extremities
Maddie Jo took her diagnosis in stride. A bubbly, outgoing kid, she kept a positive attitude and simply told her mom “okay, what’s next?” after each appointment.
Maddie Jo
Olivia
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
In 2023, Olivia celebrated the 5-year anniversary of her transplant conducted at The Heart Center at Children's Health in Dallas - the place she calls the balloon hospital.
Meet Olivia
Paige
Diagnosis: Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy
Location: Dallas
Despite a complex case of diagnoses, daring Paige faces each obstacle with the support of Children’s Health team members and fellow patients.
Meet Paige
Preston
Diagnosis: Acute myeloid leukemia
Preston likes to smile, crack jokes and try to make everyone feel comfortable – even when he’s going through a lot.
Meet Preston
Preston
Diagnosis: Testicular Cancer
Preston was only a freshman in high school when a surgeon in the emergency room at Childre's Health told him he'd have to remove one of his testicles after a tumor that had caused it to swell to three times its normal size.
Meet Preston
RH
Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy and rare genetic disorder
Location: Dallas
For more than a decade, RH’s care has involved collaborating with numerous specialists across the Children’s Health system to help a boy who cannot talk.
Meet RH
Ricky
Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
“One minute Ricky was starting summer vacation and sleeping over at his best friend’s house, and the next we were rushing to the ER in Dallas,” Priscilla said.
Meet Ricky
Riley
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Diagnosed with heart failure, Riley lay in her hospital bed at Children’s Health℠ in Dallas thinking about the day that completely sidelined her active life.
Meet Riley
Rook
Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Location: Plano
A nosebleed led to Rook’s early leukemia diagnosis. Now, this superhero-loving kid is fighting back, ready to ring the bell soon.
Meet Rook
Ryder
Diagnosis: Multiple Lung Diseases
A bout with RSV as a baby has turned into a lifelong battle for our hero Ryder.
Meet Ryder
Samantha
Diagnosis: Kidney and heart transplant
Location: Dallas
In search of better treatment for Samantha’s ongoing kidney problems, her grandmother found the care and the “family” they needed at Children’s Health.
Meet Samantha
Serenity
Diagnosis: Acute flaccid myelitis
Serenity was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) likely caused by an infection from an enterovirus - a common virus that usually causes mild symptoms.
Meet Serenity
Shay
Diagnosis: Henoch-Schonlein Purpur Nephritis
For a while, 5-year-old Shay wanted to be a doctor for babies when she grew up. But these days, she's all about the pizza. She might want to work at a pizza place or be a pizza maker.
Meet Shay
Stella
Diagnosis: Tuba1A gene mutation
Summer and Travis rode a rollercoaster of emotions since becoming pregnant - with one valley being a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks revealing that their daughter Stella's brain wasn't forming as expected.
Meet Stella
Sydney
Diagnosis: Heart and liver transplant
Location: Dallas
Last year, Sydney became too sick to stay at school. Now she’s back with her bright smile. The only thing different about Sydney is her heart – and her liver.
Meet Sydney
Thiago
Diagnosis: Leukemia
After being diagnosed with leukemia, Thiago and his mother Laura went to Children's Health to heal. Now in remission, Thiago is back in school and thriving.
Meet Thiago
Trevor
Diagnosis: Pilocytic astrocytoma
Location: Dallas
Despite experiencing the impossible, Trevor and his family gave back to the people who helped him throughout his journey at Children’s Health.
Meet Trevor
Valentina
Diagnosis: B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Victoria
Diagnosis: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Location: Plano
Victoria was one of the first patients at Children's Health Plano to receive a revolutionary immunotherapy treatment. Now, she’s paving the way for other kids with leukemia.
Meet Victoria
Vienna
Diagnosis: Heart Transplant
Zoey
Diagnosis: Rehabilitation
Zoey was 18 months old when she was rushed to Children's Health after a near-drowning accident. On a feeding tube and barely moving, a long road to recovery began.
Meet Zoey