Our Miracle Families

Here at Miracle at KSU we place a huge emphasis on being a family. As a family it is important that you know why we do what we do. Our 'why' is our everything. It's what keeps each member of this organization going when the road gets long and our goals seem so far out of reach. These kids are our biggest 'why's.

For 15-year-old Nathan, quitting isn’t an option. You might say persistence is in his DNA, passed down from his parents, Jennifer and Jonathan, who refused to take no for an answer. When Nathan was 6 years old, the couple learned their son didn’t just have a heart murmur—he had a very rare heart defect called isolated pulmonary artery of ductal origin, which affects only about 1 in 200,000 people. They were told there was nothing that could be done to repair their son’s heart. So they turned to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, an interventional cardiologist and co-director of Children’s pulmonary artery program, was optimistic. “There was something about the CT scan that made me think it’s worth a shot, and that’s what I wanted to give that family,” Dr. Bauser-Heaton said. Nathan’s treatment wasn’t easy. He needed a complex open-heart surgery. Yet, through all of the challenges he faced, Nathan was a bright light of positivity. And his persistence has paid off. Today, Nathan is more active than ever. He has become even more passionate about parkour and free running and competes in competitions throughout the Southeast. He also is obsessed with pickleball and video games. He competes on his school varsity esports team. “Nathan is a miracle. He's just got this energy and there's a vibrance about him. He never quits,” Dr. Bauser-Heaton says. Nathan isn’t so sure about being called a miracle kid. The miracle, he says, is “everybody who helped him along the way.

Noelle (Noey) was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) on October 19th, 2022 at the age of 5. 

Noey was eating her breakfast in the kitchen on Oct. 18th 2022, when she abruptly fainted. Luckily her pediatrician was able to get her in that morning. They ran some basic blood work and thought she may be anemic, but couldn't be certain until the CBC came back the next day. The next afternoon (Oct. 19th), at 3:04 pm, I received a call from her pediatrician saying I needed to take her to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite ED immediately, that she thought she had Leukemia. 

We live roughly an hour away from the hospital and it was the longest drive of my life. Noey was still the happy little girl I saw every day. Other than her labs stating she was  very sick, she looked as if she may have not been feeling well, but that was it. Once we arrived, Children's rushed her through the testing and admitted her to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center floor at Children's with an official diagnosis of ALL. On Oct. 19th at 11:17 pm, we were in the room that we would call another home for a month. The next day she had her first surgery, getting her port placed, and then on the 21st she had her first dose of chemotherapy. It happened so fast, and yet time seemed to stop. Since then, Noey has undergone countless port accesses, anxiety attacks, lumbar punctures, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, a variety of chemotherapy, and 2 bone marrow aspirations, in addition to the endless lost of side effects. She took her last dose of chemo on December 26th, 2024, and had her port removed on January 24th, 2025. She now gets her labs checked once every other month to make sure that the cancer stays away. Noey is a happy, sassy, fun-loving little girl that will celebrate her 9th birthday in Nov. She loves to dance at home, and attends ballet and tap classes!

MEET THE HENDERSON FAMILY

Abe

Abe Hopkins had suspected mitochondrial disease and spent lots of time at CHOA in search of finding an answer. Sadly, Abe passed away in 2014.

Mary elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth Hopkins was born with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy where her brain did not tell her muscles to function. She sadly passed in 2014.

Michala

Michala Hopkins was born with Acardi Syndrome and Her leg was amputated to attempt to save her life. She also BEAT Angio Sarcoma Cancer and is living a happy life!

MEET ELLIE PRUITT

When Ellie was 4 she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis later went into remission. During this time Ellie was a very spunky and active 8 year old until one day she became sick at school and was brought to egleston hospital she went into cardiac arrest, from this Ellie had some brain damage impairing her movement. After 7 days of being in the hospital Ellie passed away in February 2020 but her community and family members live on by her rules of “have fun and love always”. 

MEET PARKER GRELECKI

Parker was born with hydrocephalus, meaning there was a blockage in his brain preventing spinal fluid from draining. At birth, Parker had 98% fluid in his head and 2% brain matter. The first nine months of his life required many shunt and craniofacial surgeries. He is always on the go. He stole the show at DM two year. 

MEET LIAM JOHNSTON

Liam started with therapy at the Town Center location when it first opened! They were vital in getting his Pachygyria diagnosis. While his neurologist is in private practice (she started at CHOA), he utilizes CHOA for everything else! Between frequent lab and imaging, neurology consults, orthopedics and he has unfortunately done a number of stints in their PICU.

Liam is currently part of the Kennesaw football team and attends all of their home games! During the summer months he plays kickball for horizon league in Acworth.

Noah was born at 37 weeks and then taken to the NICU where he spent several days there for observation. While in the NICU, Noah was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and the night prior to his scheduled discharge, a new nurse to his care was giving him a bath. She could tell Noah was having problems with breathing and she could hear something wrong with his heart. The next morning, Noah has an echocardiogram and he was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Defect which is one of many traits of Down Syndrome. Noah had VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) which was repaired in December 2023 and continues to have a Partial AV Canal (Atrioventricular) and Aortic Arch Hypoplasia. 

Noah has had 10 surgeries since he was born including: 

• Open Heart, Ear Tubes, Dental Cleaning, Adenoids and Tonsils, Eye - Tear Ducts, Hernia

Noah also receives several services from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta including: 

• Cardiology, Therapies, ENT, Audiology, Sleep Medicine, Day Surgery, Child Life, Sports Medicine, Emergency Department, Dental, Anesthesia, Labs and Imaging, Psychology and Psychiatry, Orthopedic 

Noah will continue to see these specialists until he is an adult and we might add to this list of specialists

MEET HARRISON MONTAGUE

Imagine a childhood defined not by playgrounds and laughter, but by the sterile walls of a hospital. This has been our reality…our son Harrison’s reality, for nearly his entire life. From his very first breaths, Harrison has bravely battled PURA syndrome and a rare, severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) that threatens his life daily. 

For 22 years, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) was more than just a hospital; it was our lifeline, a beacon of hope, and a second home. From his initial four months in the NICU to countless surgeries at Scottish Rite and ongoing specialist visits, CHOA’s dedicated teams wrapped their arms around Harrison and our family; they were a sanctuary of normalcy amidst chaos, transforming daunting procedures and long stays into moments of bearable comfort and even joy.

Now, at 23, Harrison has transitioned to adult hospitals, and the contrast is stark, leaving a void that speaks volumes about the unparalleled, child-centered care CHOA provides. The specialized understanding, the familiar faces, the comforting environments designed just for kids—these are now cherished memories, making the present all the more challenging.

We're sharing Harrison's story to honor his resilience and to champion the profound difference that truly compassionate pediatric care makes. Your support can help ensure that other children like Harrison continue to receive the specialized, heartwarming care they so desperately need during their most vulnerable years.

MEET THE SLADE TRIPLETS

isabelle

Isabelle Slade, along with her sisters, was born premature. At birth, she had a brain hemorrhage, resulting in hydrocephalus. After several surgeries, a shunt was no longer needed. She developed hemiplegia, which caused her left arm and leg to be stiff. She had laser eye surgery to correct blood vessels in her eyes that were not formed correctly. 

gracie

Gracie Slade, along with her sisters, was born premature. She spent 95 days in NICU. Developed an infection that was life threatening, but the doctors were able to treat it and she is completely healthy now. 

emma

Emma Slade, along with her sisters, was born premature, but has not had any further complications. She spent 95 days in NICU. Although the smallest of her sisters, she had no problems and is a healthy girl. 

MEET TYLER THOMAS

Tyler has complex congenital heart disease in which he only has the use of one pump/one side of his heart. That’s why he’s often referred to as having only “half” of a heart since the other side is too small to use. He’s had multiple surgeries and has received amazing care at CHOA! His journey began with a life-flight helicopter when he was only a week old, and continues with his most recent procedure being last December. There’s no cure, and his condition won’t go into remission, but CHOA has given him the opportunity to live despite being born with a heart that was incompatible with life, and he is such an awesome guy! His smile lights up the room and he is so enjoyable to be around! Watching him run around, you’d never know the struggle his body endures because he doesn’t let it slow him down!

MEET CHARLI JANE SPRADLIN

MEET NEVAEH WEST

36 hours after being born, Nevaeh was rushed to the NICU where she was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. She was then transferred to Egleston where she spent a lot of time and received several surgeries. She was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum, epilepsy, global development delay, short gut, and non-verbal. 

She is currently in 8th grade and living her best life! She’s enjoying weekly adaptive riding lessons, the occasional Starbucks treat, and recently went to her first concert (Disney Descendents | Zombies Worlds Collide Tour)!

She also plays sports at Horizon Fields and attends lots of fun summer camps (Camp Dream & Saddle Up Camp)!

MEET BEAU DILLARD

MEET MAX AND JUDE MOODY

Max: 

Max was adopted when he was 2 1/2 from China. He has had OT, ST, and PT ever since his adoption but has been remarkably healthy. A few weeks ago though we learned he is losing vision in his left eye. He had eye surgery at Scottish Rite last week to help slow down the vision loss. He was really brave and doing really well with recovery.

Jude: 

Jude was born at 35 weeks and diagnosed with Down syndrome. We learned he had 2 holes in his heart and conductive hearing loss. He wore a hearing aid from 2 months old to around 4 years old. Since he was 2 months old he has OT, ST, and PT. His first 4 years therapy took place at a CHOA therapy center. He also has a lung disease that has had him hospitalized dozens of times ranging from 3-5 nights to weeks receiving treatment.

ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM, ONE LOVE