Olivia Spiess
Olivia Spiess was born at 30 weeks’ gestation in January 2021, the youngest of four children to parents Gretchen and Don. Following a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia and COVID infection, Gretchen, delivered Olivia by emergency C-section, and from her first moments of life, Olivia faced extraordinary challenges. She struggled to breathe at birth, requiring prolonged…
Quincy Rainey
Before February 2026, Quincy was a healthy, highly active 17‑year‑old junior at Rockwood Summit High School. A dedicated multi-sport athlete, he trained year-round and was accustomed to intense physical demands, pushing through injuries and conditioning seven days a week. Quincy was being scouted by colleges for athletic scholarships and maintained a full academic and extracurricular…
Wyatt Beckett
Before hospitals, transfusions, or isolation ever entered his world, Wyatt was simply Wyatt: an active, unstoppable 3‑year‑old growing up on a busy farm almost two hours southeast of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. His days were spent riding tractors, chasing goats and donkeys, helping bale hay, and exploring acres of open land with his…
Chase Cory
Finding Strength, Support and a Smile That Shines Tara and Michael of Glen Carbon, IL, were the proud parents of two boys when they learned they were expecting Baby #3. At their 20-week anatomy scan in December 2022—just before Christmas—they were told their son might have a cleft lip and a hole in his heart.…
Juliana Steger
Juliana from South St. Louis County, MO is a sweet and cuddly 6 year old. She loves animals, music, books, waffles, pancakes, dinosaurs, deer, baby dolls and big trucks. She loves her two sisters, her mom and her biggest love is probably her daddy. She has been through more in her 5 years of life…
Ambrea Doll
“My name is Ambrea, and I am cancer free.” These were the words spoken by 14-year-old survivor, Ambrea, as she confidently completed her solo dance performance to the song, “I’ll never surrender” – by Shangrii-La. This day, March 10, 2024, marks nearly one year following her life-threatening diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “It’s pure joy to…
Makayla Cross
When Cheri and Terrion Cross left San Diego in 2016 to come to St. Louis, Missouri, they had been married for two years trying to have children. A blended family, Cheri and Terrion were already parents to teenagers, Elijah and Trinity, but they had hoped for more children to add to their happy home. Cheri…
Easton Specht
“My pregnancy was completely normal. I had just had my 30 week ultrasound, where my doctor welcomed me to the third trimester and told me that I was doing great,” Kassie reflected. “Shortly after that, I unexpectedly started spotting”, Kassie said, “Ty and I went to the hospital (SSM Health St. Joseph’s West) and the…
Walker Lydick
When Gretchen learned her unborn son had Down syndrome, she was shocked and scared. Would she love this baby? Would his big brothers accept him? Would he even survive? As a young mom, she wasn’t sure she was equipped to care for him properly, but committed herself to giving him the best life possible —…
Lavender Watson
Rose and Demetrius Watson of St. Louis, MO were given grim odds about the survival of their unborn baby, Lavender. However, this now sassy 5-year-old, known as “The Queen”, has been proving predictions wrong every step of the way. “Incompatible with life.” “Chromosomal abnormality”. “Might not survive long after birth”. These were words that Rose…