Meet 2016-17 Ala. Champion, Delaney

“Have courage and be kind.” These words, bestowed upon Cinderella by her mother, inspire Delaney to fight her battle with spina bifida. That fight began at birth when she was surprisingly diagnosed with a severe form of spina bifida. Delaney’s vertebrae didn’t develop properly around her spinal cord, causing complications that required surgery on the second day of her life. Five major surgeries followed, including having a shunt placement in her brain.

Delaney’s positive outlook and social calendar overshadow her daily struggles; there’s waterskiing, shrimping, Girl Scouts, piano lessons and volunteering with her dad, a veterinarian whose career she aspires to have.

In 2014, Delaney and her family once again turned to Cinderella’s mother’s words after losing their home during a terrible flood. Family and friends dug them out of the mud and they are planning to rebuild a home that is more accessible for Delaney.

Delaney’s latest goal is wheelchair racing. She’s raising money for a chair with her cupcake and lemonade stand.

How donations helped Delaney at the University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital: 

Delaney receives treatments and consultations with specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology and more. All of these areas are supported by CMN Hospitals donations.