The Face of

In July 2021, a scan revealed a cancerous tumor in Leoncio’s brain. Two days later, the entire tumor was removed at Phoenix Children’s. Now 9 years old, Leo has completed chemo and radiation therapy, and today he is officially free of cancer.

A near-drowning accident in September 2019 deprived Eviana of oxygen for 52 minutes. When she regained a pulse at Phoenix Children’s, her mom knew there was a bigger plan for her daughter. Eviana’s strong determination in rehab has helped this resilient 4-year-old regain function.

Identical twins Kiana and Karma, age 12, were diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth. The girls spent the first seven years of their lives quarantined in their home. Everything radically changed for the better when both twins received bone marrow transplants from their brother.

Twelve-year-old Charity fights her way through a complex gastrointestinal disorder that prevents her from digesting food normally. She spent many years not eating anything, instead getting nutrition intravenously or through a feeding tube. Recently, Charity was able to eat real food for the first time.

When Brantley was born in February 2022, his heart couldn’t pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of his body. At 10 days old, he underwent open heart surgery to reposition his coronary arteries and repair two holes in his heart. Today, he’s always smiling.

At birth, Kimberly weighed only 1 pound 4 ounces. She was immediately diagnosed with a group of conditions that affect her development. Rehab has been essential to Kim’s growth, and she is now a happy 2-year-old learning how to stand and walk.

Christian was 4 when surgery to remove a brain tumor resulted in total vision loss. He adapted well, but he still faced challenges in a world built for sighted people. Now 10, Christian recently began using a device that helps him recognize faces and read text.

Brooks was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a rare condition caused by the combination of four heart defects. He had open heart surgery when he was just 5 weeks old. Now 2 years old, Brooks is on the move—bike rides around his neighborhood are his favorite.

Four-year-old Paul has epilepsy, cerebral palsy and cognitive vision impairment. When he first began treatment at Phoenix Children’s, his body was stiff. Paul has worked hard in rehab for years, and now he can pull himself up to stand and is learning how to get around in a wheelchair.

When Namiko was 2 months old, a rare liver disorder caused her to turn the color of lemon juice. After diagnosis, Namiko battled serious complications that propelled her to the top of the transplant list. She received a new liver in July 2022 and is now a playful 3-year-old.