Meet Champion, Whitleigh

When Whitleigh’s family learned they were expecting twins, their excitement was tempered by news that their baby girl had only one kidney. After her birth, Whitleigh was diagnosed with VACTERL Association, a rare condition involving multiple anatomical defects. She was born with six of them, including vertebral defects, cardiac issues, and renal anomalies. At just 48 hours old, Whitleigh underwent her first surgery. She spent 30 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), endured numerous tests, a blood transfusion, and 14 surgeries. Her vertebral defects left her without L3, L4 and L5 vertebrae, a coccyx, and sacrum, and doctors cautioned she might never walk or talk. Defying every expectation, Whitleigh is now walking, talking, dancing, and even doing one-handed cartwheels. Her remarkable progress is a testament to the life-saving expertise of her care team at the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.