Meet Our Champions

When she was in second grade, seven-year-old Arielle was on her way to her school’s awards day with her mom when their car was hit head-on. The crash left her mom unconscious and Arielle with life-threatening injuries: her femur broken, her face badly cut, and her neck so severely damaged that her skull was detached from her spine, held in place only by damaged ligaments. It’s a condition called internal decapitation, and as her neurosurgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, explained, only half of people with this injury survive. Arielle underwent emergency surgery to stabilize her head and spine, then began the long road to recovery. She had to relearn how to walk, eat, and dress herself, supported by an extraordinary team of speech, occupational, and physical therapists. She found joy in donor- funded art therapy, music therapy, visits from therapy dogs, and karaoke in the hospital’s play space for patients. Three years later, Arielle was cleared to play sports again. She now cheers, plays volleyball, sings, and plays the violin. Despite the permanent, ongoing risk of paralysis if she ever re-injures her neck, Arielle lives boldly and joyfully. Now 13, Arielle is thriving. She’s confident, compassionate, and unstoppable. She dreams of being a model, singer, or dancer, and continues to inspire everyone who meets her. "Arielle is a true miracle," says her mom. "She spreads light and love everywhere she goes."