Meet Our Champions

When Rudy was born, his parents immediately knew something was wrong. His left arm and parts of his back were covered in a large, raised birthmark: dark, bumpy, and already bleeding. The diagnosis: a giant congenital melanocytic nevus, with a potential risk of melanoma. Because doctors feared it could become cancerous, by two months old, Rudy underwent his first surgeries to remove it. By four years old, Rudy’s early grafts had tightened, torn, and bled repeatedly, restricting his ability to move his arm. His mom began searching for surgeons across the country experienced in complex tissue- expansion and flap-reconstruction procedures. But the perfect doctor was closer than she imagined, in their backyard at Dayton Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Despite complications, infections, and setbacks, Rudy’s team never gave up. His surgeon met him where he was, playing in the hallway and drawing matching beards before surgery to earn Rudy’s trust. "They saw Rudy as a kid first," his mom says. "That made all the difference." Over the years, Rudy has endured 47 surgeries, a blood transfusion, and long recoveries. He’s spent holidays in the hospital and faced moments of uncertainty and frustration. Yet today, he wears his scars with pride. He swims, plays outside, and refuses to cover up his scars, a testament to his courage and strength. Now 14, Rudy is thriving and dreaming of becoming a plastic surgeon, inspired by the care and innovation that restored his mobility. His mom says, "He’s proud of who he is. Dayton Children’s didn’t just fix his arm, they helped him heal in every way." Rudy’s story is one of resilience, trust, and compassion—a powerful reminder that children’s hospitals do more than just provide treatment. They give kids back their childhoods.