Shriners Children's Chicago Patient Abbey Makes the Squad

The care that Abbey has received at Shriners Children's has allowed her to grow in comfort and live her life to the highest potential, including becoming a cheerleader.

In 2013 when Abbey was just 5 she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disturbance to a child's developing brain which can affect muscle tone, movement, and coordination. After Abbey's family discovered what Shriners Children’s Chicago could do, they began her care journey. Over the years Abbey has received therapy, braces, and a few complicated surgeries to help her be as independent as possible.

Abbey’s cerebral palsy mainly affects her leg muscles, but that has not stopped her from achieving major accomplishments. For instance, every time Abbey would meet with her orthopedic surgeon, Peter Smith, M.D., she would repeat her goals, which were to “wear sandals and walk on the beach.” Those two things have been her dream and goal. Abbey achieved both goals after her second surgery in January 2022. By July, she was on vacation on a beautiful summer day, walking on the beach in sandals. Abbey’s mother, Vicki, said, “Dr. Smith has steadily guided us into a world we never imagined. His skills and knowledge are second to none.”

Abbey is the embodiment of putting your mind to something and achieving your goals, and Shriners Children’s staff members have been there to help, providing the most amazing care anywhere. When Abbey was 11, she participated in the Miss You Can Do It Pageant for girls with special needs. Abbey won Miss Congeniality and was named the best interview in the Junior Miss category, another one of the milestones she has achieved thus far.