Miracles In Motion: Allie

“My freshman year, Bella was our Miracle Child. I had never been involved in Dance Marathon before. I had attended a few events, I was registered to dance, but I really had no idea what it was all about. Bella and her family had come to the Delta Gamma house for dinner, and they had recently been talking about Bella taking her first steps… how they were getting so close, and that this was so exciting, because they had always been told she wouldn’t be able to walk.

In the living room after dinner, Taylor (our Dance Marathon Delegate for Delta Gamma) and Krystina (Bella’s mom) were helping Bella practice. She stood up, ran a few steps, and the room went really quiet. She stopped, and then she took a few more steps from Taylor and into Krystina’s arms for the first time. Everyone was crying and screaming and laughing, and Bella just had no idea what was going on or why people were so excited for her. She just stood there smiling. It was so amazing to see the look on Krystina’s face. Bella had never been able to do that, and was under the impression that she might go her whole life unable to do so.

Donating equipment will never be enough. We can buy all of the equipment in the world but there’s always going to be a need for that human connection between the donor and those being impacted at the hospital. Honestly, it’s needed between human beings, too. There are people out there going through things we may never understand. But if we’re able to develop this connection by becoming a part of this family, by contributing your information and your willingness to listen, there’s always room to grow. There will never be enough comfort and happiness and joy and supplies in the lives of these children, but we have an opportunity to help. An opportunity to help and make someone else’s life a little bit better. That is why I fundraise.” – Allie, Finance Manager for Dance Marathon at the University of Florida

Want to help kids like Bella at your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital? Click here to learn more.

Miracles in Motion tells the inspiring stories of our pediatric patient families, clinicians and staff members in their everyday lives. These moments are what make UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital​ such a special place to the more than 150,000 patient families treated here each year. Follow along to learn more about these stories and how Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals​ makes even the most ordinary moments extraordinary.