CMN Miracle Child: Meet Claire Dula

Meet Children's Miracle Network child Claire Dula.

"We noticed at 18 months she wasn't walking or talking, she had a brain injury inside the womb and got diagnosed with cerebral palsy," said Claire's mother Rebecca. "So, she can walk, but, she's needed a lot of assistance with it in terms of two femeral surgeries and a spinal surgery. And every time she has those surgeries, she has to relearn to walk again and do lots of physical therapy."

Her therapist shares this update.

"So, we've been working on doing some transfers, trying to get her back to walking independently," said Sarah Jones. "She was walking independently before surgery."

"Everything physical we take for granted," said her father Dan. "Trying to go upstairs, she can't go very well. Navigating terrain, it's just not going to work out for her."

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals makes it possible for Claire's family to provide the care she needs.

"So there's been many a pair of AFO's which are ankle foot orthotics, insurance usually only pays for one pair a year, but you can't make a kid not grow over a year," said Rebecca. "So anything above and beyond that, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals helps get those for her so she can continue her rehabilitation and her therapies."

"Sometimes we have to go to St. Louis, sometimes we have to go to Columbia, and not having to worry about that is a big part of what CMN helps us with, by taking care of the gas," said Dan.

"Based on her disabilities and the things we've got going on, I stay home and I homeschool because that's best for her," said Rebecca. "Living on one income, as difficult as it is, and put on top of that gas money and medical bills that aren't paid for, it's great to have Children's Miracle Network Hospitals take some of that burden away from us. To have to not constantly come up with that extra money is nice."

Rebecca and Dan have a message for anyone who would like to help.

"The best thing they can do is donate anytime they get a chance," said Dan.

"Donate, donate, donate to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals," said Rebecca. "It's the best thing to be able to know that that money is going directly to the kids here in town. They do a wonderful job."

Despite her struggles, Claire stays positive.

"She is so happy, so positive, she never sees her glass as have empty," said Rebecca. "She always sees it as half full."

Claire and her family are thankful for the support from Children's Miracle

Network Hospitals.

"I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and from our entire family. We love and appreciate everything Children's Miracle Network Hospital does for us," Rebecca.

"They have made our lives easier, they've made Claire's life better," said Dan.