Miracle Child: Meet Children’s Miracle Network Hospital child Avaleigh Wilson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - In the heart of a challenging journey, the Wilson family found hope, strength, and miracles through the unwavering support of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals.

“It’s immeasurable what Children’s Miracle Network gives to families like us,” Josh Wilson says. He and his wife, Aundrea, say their daughter had a tough start to life.

They call Avaleigh Wilson, a true miracle, born at just 25 weeks—weighing a mere 1 pound 6 ounces. The challenges seemed insurmountable from the start—brain bleed, vision issues, lung complications, and heart problems. The Wilsons faced the uncertainty of whether their precious daughter would make it through.

“They didn’t think she was going to make it. And every week, she proved to us that she was a strong one,” Andrea says.

Avaleigh’s early days were spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), surrounded by hoses, cords, IVs, stick-on monitors, and wires—a testament to the medical battles she fought.

The family went back and forth between Springfield and St. Louis. The Wilsons say drives back and forth were expensive, underlining the financial strain that often accompanies medical crises.

Enter Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals—providing not just medical assistance but also easing the burden of travel expenses. CMN Hospitals covered the costs, allowing the Wilson family to concentrate on Avaleigh’s recovery without the added stress of financial worries.

“They called to check on us when we were getting transferred to say ‘hey, is there anything you guys need?’ and they said, ‘Say the word, and we’re there for you,’” Aundrea says.

Today, Avaleigh is not just surviving; she’s thriving and bringing joy to her family. Her parents proudly label her a fighter, acknowledging that it’s Avaleigh’s strength that saw them through.

“I say it’s not our strength that got us through it. It’s Avaleigh’s strength,” Aundrea says.

In the face of adversity, the Wilsons have come to understand that no amount of support is too small. They join countless families in expressing gratitude for the relief provided during their darkest moments.

“It’s not how much you give [but] it’s where you give from, I think. If you truly give from your heart, that’s all that really matters,” Wilson says.

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