Meet Our CMN Hero – Athena!
“Teeny Theenie” is what her family likes to call her. It’s a playful nickname that Athena picked up because of her small stature. It’s also a reminder of just how much this resilient girl from Brownsville, Minn., had to go through to get to where she is today.
For Athena, her journey began even before her birth in 2018. At 32 weeks, doctored noticed an abnormality on mom Aleigha’s ultrasound. That prompted genetic testing, which revealed that both her and dad Alex were carriers of Cystic Fibrosis. Athena fell into the 25 percent of children who would then carry the disease.
Athena spent her first 50 days of life in the hospital undergoing procedures for various issues, and life didn’t get any easier her first year at home. But today, this happy, energetic girl, who loves to hoard stuffed animals and jam to Taylor Shift isn’t letting Cystic Fibrosis define her life, despite the hours of therapy she must complete daily to manage it. That spirit is what makes her our Hero.
Athena required several pieces of specialized equipment when she left the hospital, and thankfully, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was there to help. In addition to the gas cards, specialty baby formula and eventual horse-riding lessons, CMN Hospitals helped secure chest physical therapy (CPT) equipment and respiratory equipment replacements – making the financial burden a bit easier.
Today, Athena receives routine care from Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at Gundersen Health System, and her parents credit this team, along with the resources their family has received from CMN Hospitals for her healthy growth.
“CMN Hospitals makes a difference in families lives, whether a direct grant given to the family or a grant to improve hospital facilities supporting pediatric care,” Aleigha says. “We are humbled by the community care and support.”
There are many families like Athena’s who are eligible for support through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and the extra helping hand is a comforting help during a difficult time.
