S.17/E.20
Jamie's Dream Team
Jamie Holmes-Ward was born with a rare condition known as V.A.T.E.R Syndrome. The Cleveland Clinic says: VATER syndrome, also known as VACTERL association, is a complex condition that affects several parts of the body. VATER (VACTERL) is an acronym that stands for the affected parts of the body including the vertebrae, anus, heart, trachea, esophagus, kidney and limbs. Treatment is symptomatic and unique for each person diagnosed with the condition.
Jamie was born with abnormalities in all those areas. Having had over forty-five (45) surgeries and/or medical procedures since her birth, including surgeries to reconstruct her esophagus, trachea, and lower intestine, and to fuse several vertebrae in her spine. One (1) of her kidneys disintegrated and her remaining kidney does not fully function. Throughout all of this she considers herself very fortunate throughout her numerous hospitalizations and surgeries, though, to have had the support and love of her family, friends, doctors and nurses. Although she was seldom without pain and sometimes, embarrassed about her condition, when friends and family showed up to support her with balloons and other gifts she felt like a Princess. She remembers wanting to share this feeling of joy with the other kids at Children’s Hospital that she would meet. All she wanted was to give them her balloons and have them feel a little of the happiness that others had brought to her. Despite the pain and suffering that she has, and will continue to endure, her heart has always been with others who are suffering. As such, she started Jamie’s Dream Team to fulfill her dream of helping people of all ages who are suffering from serious illness, injury, disability or trauma. Knowing personally that fulfilling dreams is the best healing of all, as receiving a dream helps heal the spirit.
Jamie is here to tell her story of overcoming obstacles with grace and creating a nonprofit to help children lift their spirits as they deal serious medical conditions. Jamie is a dynamo of energy and strength turning an otherwise bleak world into one with rainbows, fairy princesses and smiles. We hope you will help her reach even more children through donations to her 501(c)(3)