On the Mat, Against All Odds: Kooper's Story

Born with the need for an above-the-knee amputation, Kooper learned to navigate the world a little differently than most kids.

When she was 17 weeks pregnant, Kooper’s mother, Dawn, was told devastating news – Kooper and his twin Conner had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and at the same time learned that Kooper was going to need an amputation to his right leg upon birth. At 18 weeks, Dawn and her husband, Rikk, were given three options from their specialist: Do nothing and both babies would pass in two days, abort Kooper to give Conner an 80% chance to live, or undergo surgery the next day and see who lives. Dawn and Rikk chose the third option, had surgery the next day and both babies survived. At 34 weeks, Kooper and Conner were delivered and began their lives with their family.

After Kooper and Conner were born, Dawn’s specialist immediately directed her to seek care at Shriners Children’s. When he was 7 months old, Kooper and his family traveled from their home in North Pole, Alaska, to Shriners Children’s Portland. Upon arrival at the hospital, the family moved through appointments, seeing a variety of specialists all focused on Kooper’s care.

“Our first visit was almost 6 hours,” said Dawn. The long visit was due to the amount of specialists they were able to see in one day. Starting at registration, Dawn began to make note of how reassuring the hospital was. “Every time we come there, every single person that works there, from a janitor to a doctor and in between, are so happy and friendly, and excited to see every single child and their family that walks through your doors,” Dawn said. They then went to their first appointment, seeing, Ivan Krajbich, M.D., for orthopedics, then moving to the radiology department, and then back to Dr. Krajbich.