Getting Stronger Every Day: Charlotte's Story of Courage and Perseverance

Charlotte is one of the most caring and empathetic children you could ever meet.

Any time she receives a special treat, whether that be Harry Potter chocolate, grape soda or desserts, she shares them immediately with her fellow patients, nurses and staff members. She makes every person in the room with her feel special and wanted. She greets everyone with a big smile on her face and when she asks how you’re doing, she really cares and listens to your answer. She is wise and mature beyond her years and is destined for greatness.

Charlotte’s persistent positive attitude is even more admirable as she has had to face various medical challenges throughout her 14 years. When Charlotte was 7, the day after Christmas, she woke up unable to walk. During her stay at her local hospital, she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a type of nerve cancer, on her spine in the form of a tumor. The day after this diagnosis, Charlotte had emergency surgery to remove the part of the tumor that was compressing her spine. The surgery helped her to walk again.

Charlotte had active cancer for years and underwent 17 rounds of chemotherapy and a 28-day proton therapy radiation cycle. Today, Charlotte still has cancer in her body, but it is referred to as not being “hot,” or active. The initial surgery led to scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves, marking just the beginning of her journey.

During summer 2024, Charlotte was struggling to walk again and began using a walker. By Christmastime 2024, she could not walk at all and, in turn, arrived at Shriners Children's Philadelphia mid-January 2025 for medical care. Due to the rare nature of Charlotte's medical diagnoses, many doctors refused to operate. However, word got through to Steven Hwang, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Shriners Children's Philadelphia, who personally reached out to Charlotte's family to offer to treat and eventually perform surgery in Philadelphia. Charlotte’s mother, Chelsea, said “Charlotte was denied by three different surgeons that refused to do what Dr. Hwang was able to do, and his confidence made our family feel much more secure. We could not be more grateful for what Shriners has been able to do for us.”

When Charlotte arrived in Philadelphia, she could not move her legs or feet at all. She was treated for kyphosis, a type of scoliosis in which the upper spine curves forward abnormally, first with halo gravity traction. A metal ring (halo) is surgically attached to the skull with screws and connected to a pulley system (traction), with weights gradually added to slowly straighten the head and spine before surgery.

Through Dr. Hwang's dedication to helping Charlotte and his willingness to tackle a complicated spinal case head-on, Charlotte underwent spinal fusion surgery. She can now move her legs and feet again, and her spine is straightened. She is also relearning to walk and balance on her own through physical and occupational therapy. She grows stronger and walks farther every day. Dr. Hwang said, “Charlotte is an incredibly brave and tough kid who has been through more than anyone should, but continues to do so stoically and with a great attitude. She came to us paralyzed with a small chance of recovery, and with that hope and incredible hard work, she has made a miraculous recovery and continues to improve. She is an inspiration to us all!”

Charlotte has been at Shriners Children's Philadelphia for six months now and has had other stays at another local hospital to treat sudden medical conditions that arose such as stomach issues, pneumonia and lung-related breathing problems. Charlotte has had a tracheostomy and uses a ventilator to assist her breathing. However, she has been practicing respiratory “sprints” in which she breathes on her own without external ventilation to see how her lungs adapt. By slowly strengthening the lungs, Charlotte can soon get off the ventilator, have her trache removed and breathe independently when she returns home.

While some patients need standard care, others, like Charlotte, face more complex conditions that require care over months and even years. These patients and their families tell us that Shriners Children’s feels like a second home because of the physical, emotional and social support they receive. Shriners Children’s tackles tough scoliosis cases head-on and embraces challenges, which is why Charlotte traveled almost 1,000 miles to Philadelphia for treatment.

As a long-term patient, Charlotte has been nicknamed the “Duchess of Shriners.” Everyone who knows her at the hospital has so much love and care for her. She is one of the sweetest, most positive children one might ever be privileged to meet. She encourages other children to participate in recreational therapy activities and loves making friends with all the new inpatients. And it's not just her iconic pink sparkly sneakers that brighten every room she enters, but her smile, laugh and infectious spirit. She has truly become a leader, showing other patients that a hospital doesn't have to be a scary place when you're surrounded by people who genuinely care about you, and who you care about too.

She enjoys making felt crafts, reading Harry Potter, baking, and sharing stories and pictures of her cat. She also loves spending time with her twin sister, Bridget. Charlotte was so inspired by the child life team at Shriners Children's Philadelphia that she decided she wants to be a child life specialist when she grows up. In the future, if we are lucky, we may see Charlotte back walking through these hospital halls, teaching young inpatients all the skills and lessons she learned during her stay. She will be able to relate to them on a deeper level because of her own lived experiences. Wherever Charlotte's future takes her, she will positively impact every person she meets and make every place better than she found it.