CMN Champions

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The Children's Miracle Network Champions program honors remarkable children from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges. For their courage and perseverance, the Champions have been selected as international ambassadors for the 17 million kids treated each year at Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

Matthew

2009 CMN Champion
Matthew Garberg, age 9, Moorhead, Minn.

"I love you to the asteroid belt and back times infinity," frequently says Matthew Garberg of Moorhead, Minn. Love is certainly never in short supply when it comes to the life of Matthew. Not only does this 9-yearold have a huge heart, he also has a huge circle of friends, family and caregivers who have helped him face unique medical challenges.

Shortly after a premature birth, Matthew developed an infection called necrotizing enterocolitis. This infection resulted in the need for Matthew's colon to be removed, resulting short bowel syndrome. At one year of age, Matthew weighed just 10 pounds and was not strong enough to sit up unsupported. With the help of caregivers at MeritCare Children's Hospital, Matthew has grown and thrived.

At age 5 his tube feedings were discontinued; however, he still gets severely dehydrated and often gets infections in his small intestine. Because of the medical expertise of those at MeritCare, Matthew is able to live a normal life, but Matt chooses to live a life that is far from normal. His huge imagination lets him live the life of his favorite Star Wars characters or his favorite wizards in the Harry Potter series.

Cora

2008: Cora Knudsvig

December 31, 2005 is a day the Keith and Tanya Knudsvig family will never forget. After complaining about a bad headache and vomiting, 5-year-old daughter Cora Knudsvig became unresponsive and was rushed to MeritCare Children's Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with a brain tumor (Papillary Neuroglioma).

 
Monica

2007: Monica Hatch

Monica Hatch had an unstoppable zest for life, despite the challenges and hardships of cancer. In 2003, at the age of 11, Monica was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in the connective tissue.

 
Tanya

2006: Tanya Holbrook

On January 2, 2005, Tanya Holbrook complained to her mother about a headache. Knowing something was very wrong, Tanya was rushed to MeritCare Children's Hospital. A cluster of blood vessels had exploded in her brain. Tanya was rushed into emergency surgery where doctors placed a stent in her head to relieve the pressure from the excess blood.

 
Leah Vigum

2005: Leah Vigum

Leah Vigum is a happy five-year-old who attends pre-school and loves to sing and dance. It is difficult to look at her bright smile today and believe that at the tender age of four months the unthinkable could have happened.

 
Brandon Lee

2004: Brandon Lee

In the fall of 2002, Brandon Lee began experiencing painful headaches, a condition unusual for an athletic nine-year-old boy. On New Year's Eve, when Brandon's headache became so severe that he could no longer tolerate the pain, his parents, Kimi and Jason, knew something was terribly wrong. They rushed him to MeritCare Emergency Center, where doctors discovered a tumor behind Brandon's eye.

 
Simon Nelson

2003: Simon Nelson

The incident that earned Simon Nelson his place as CMN Champion actually took place two years ago. On January 22, 2001, young Simon, clad only in his pajamas, wandered out of his family's home near Hitterdal, Minn., into a 10-degree night. At 4:30am, Simon's mother, Janna, awoke to find the front door open. Sensing something was wrong, she went to check on Simon and his brother, DeForrest, only to find Simon's bed empty.

 
Sara Flint

2002: Sara Flint

Sara Flint's surgeries began on Nov. 23, 1994, the day she was born at MeritCare. Diagnosed with spina bifida, surgery was performed to close the opening on her spine. Ten days later, Sara underwent a second surgery to place a shunt into her head to drain off excess fluid.

 
Tyler Klain

2001: Tyler Klain

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Klain is the son of Durnell and Darcy Klain. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in March of 2000 and underwent many months of intensive chemotherapy treatment at MeritCare in Fargo. He is now in remission and doing well. Tyler is a patient of Dr. Nathan Kobrinsky, a pediatric oncologist/hematologist at MeritCare Children's Hospital.

 

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