From Uncertain to Unstoppable: Cherryanne’s Story

Under most circumstances, three centimeters is barely noticeable. But for Cherryanne, it felt like miles.

In October 2020, she and her younger sister were at home while her mother was at work. “The babysitter called and said Cherryanne had been hurt, but she was fine and there was no need to come home,” Tashia, Cherryanne’s mother, said. “But something in [the babysitter’s] voice told me otherwise, so I called my husband, and we both left work early and headed home.”

Hoyt, Cherryanne’s father, was the first to arrive at the scene. He found Cherryanne lying motionless in the road.

During a ride on the family’s golf cart, Cherryanne had fallen off and been run over. With a fractured pelvis, severely fractured femur and shattered ankle, the 7-year-old was soon undergoing emergency surgery at a hospital near the family’s home.

Eight weeks later, Cherryanne was able to progress from a wheelchair to a boot and walker. As her pelvis healed, physical therapy helped her rebuild the strength she needed to stand and walk again.

But simply walking would never be enough for the athletic girl, and she worked hard to return to the soccer field. Later, she found another place to compete: the pool, where swimming allowed her to push herself without placing additional stress on her body.

For a while, it seemed the accident was behind her. Then, Cherryanne hit a growth spurt, and her family soon noticed subtle changes.

“She started walking on her tiptoes, which then led to tripping while running,” Tashia said. “She’d recover and then fall once again.” Eventually, Cherryanne noticed the changes herself. The length of her legs no longer seemed to match.

The injuries she sustained years earlier had disrupted the growth of her leg, causing a leg length difference of just over one inch. Initial treatment received locally left her parents uncertain about the path forward.

Then, a recommendation from a family friend led the family to Shriners Children’s Greenville. It was a connection that felt “meant to be.” Cherryanne’s great-grandfather was a Shriner, and the organization already woven into their lives would soon play a major role in her recovery.

In March 2024, Cherryanne met John Frino, M.D. – a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who had recently joined the hospital staff. Cherryanne became his first scheduled patient, and surgery a month later was a success.

“Dr. Frino gave us the reassurance we needed,” said Hoyt.

Today, her scars may tell the story of the past, but the way she moves speaks to where she is now. Thanks to the care she received, Cherryanne is a defender on her soccer team and a competitive swimmer who dedicates as many as 18 hours a week to the two sports she loves.

After learning firsthand what world-class pediatric orthopedic care could make possible, she wanted to help support the hospital’s mission and created Cherryanne’s Wish. Through fundraising and community support, Cherryanne and her family have raised nearly $100,000.

Three centimeters once measured what stood in her way. Now, they represent the endless possibilities ahead for Cherryanne and the children she is helping along the way.