Your generosity to our CMN Hospitals Program makes it possible for miracles to happen every day at MVHS.

Gabriel was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 and has been attending outpatient Occupational Therapy (OT) at our Faxton Campus since December of 2023. Gabriel has sensory processing difficulties which limited his participation in school and in performing independent daily activities at home. Because of this diagnosis, he requires a much higher level of input from his senses to regulate stimuli and thrives on high energy activities such as running, jumping, and spinning. During his therapy sessions, he enjoys spinning as fast as he can on the Sensory Swing that was purchased with funds raised by the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program.

Gabriel’s Autism also causes him to display sensory avoidance behaviors that result in him interpreting information from his sense of touch and verbal input very strongly. When he first came to OT, he had shoulder length hair. Although he wanted to get his hair cut, he was highly sensitive to the sound of clippers and the vibration on his head. After a few OT sessions of placing vibration throughout his arms, chest, back, and eventually onto his head, Gabriel tolerated his first haircut and has received many since. These weekly OT sessions are helping him manage his sensory processing difficulties and improve his overall daily living at home, in school and with friends. 

Miracle experienced your generosity first hand. 

What started out as a fun summer day turned tragic for 4-year old Miracle of Utica. She and her family were on their way to the beach when their car was involved in a terrible accident. Miracle sustained the majority of injuries from the crash when her car seat came loose. She was taken to the Level III Trauma Center at Wynn Hospital where she was treated for head injuries and a broken leg. Miracle was admitted to the Pediatrics Unit where she slept comfortably in one of the new pediatric beds purchased with funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program.

Realizing that a hospital can be a scary place, MVHS strives to make every child’s stay as calm and comfortable as possible. Miracle was given a stuffed animal to help comfort her and she passed the time by playing video games on the new X-Box and PS5 gaming systems. All of these items were made possible by donations received through the CMN Hospitals program. 

One of Miracle’s caregivers said, “she’s an energetic angel who handled everything she encountered with a positive attitude and spirit.” Miracle’s physical therapists also arranged for her to be sent home in a wheelchair to make her recovery much easier. After 8 weeks of being in a cast, Miracle returned to being an active, energetic child.