Courageous Children to be Honored at Cleveland Clinic Children’s 27th Annual Gala

The 27th annual Cleveland Clinic Children’s Gala – presented by the Cleveland Cavaliers – will honor two inspiring young patients who demonstrate great character while facing a challenging medical condition. This year’s honorees, Maisie Nowlin, 7, of Lakewood, and Breanna Sprenger, 16, of Avon, will both receive the eminent Courage Award on the evening of May 6 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.

Cleveland Clinic Children’s annual gala is focused on honoring brave children facing medical obstacles and the dedicated caregivers who work tirelessly to provide comfort and healing. Funds raised at the event will help advance pediatric research, which is critical to promoting health, training caregivers and transforming patient care for the future. In 2016, gala supporters helped raise more than $1 million.

The event, hosted by Fox 8 anchor Stefani Schaefer, will feature a variety of special guests, including the musical group The Modern Gentlemen and former Cleveland Clinic Children’s patient Hannah Moses, 22, a classically trained cellist who will be opening the event.

More about this year’s Courage Award winners:

Maisie Nowlin, 7, of Lakewood, Ohio

Seven-year-old Maisie Nowlin is exceptionally inquisitive, bubbly and caring. And as the oldest of five children, she is the center of the Nowlin family. Shortly after Maisie’s sixth birthday, her world was turned upside down. Maisie received the diagnosis of a rare bone marrow failure disease called Very Severe Aplastic Anemia (VSAA).

VSAA is a life threatening illness affecting the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells and requires serious medical intervention and treatments. In September 2015, it was determined that none of Maisie’s four siblings were a bone marrow match, so in October of 2015 Maisie had to undergo immunosuppressive therapy treatment. Unfortunately, the treatment was ultimately deemed a failure, so the next hope for Maisie was to find a bone marrow donor. In early 2016, Maisie received what her family calls a “miracle”– a match had been found. Maisie underwent a bone marrow transplant, but experienced rare complications that left her requiring more platelet and blood transfusions, and in a hospital bed for weeks to months on end.

Despite enduring frequent tests and scans, missing out on school and activities, and facing a number of life-threatening situations, this young fighter – known by her lead oncologist Rabi Hanna, M.D., as “Amazing Maisie” for her incredible strength – doesn’t allow her illness to take away her spark.

“A child’s resilience is what helps us weather every storm they face,” said Maisie’s mother, Meghan Nowlin. “Maisie still has that zest for life. She still wants it all. But now she has a whole new ability to see the world in a different way than she did before. And with that, this child is going to go and do amazing things.”

Breanna Sprenger, 16, of Avon, Ohio

Breanna’s story is one of courage and tenacity. In early 2001, new parents-to-be Carrie Ross and John Sprenger were told their unborn child was missing an arm and both legs and would be born with a variety of life threatening complications. Without knowing if their baby girl would survive after the birth, Carrie and John were given the option to terminate, but they knew Breanna was destined to come into the world.

In the first eight years of her life, Breanna underwent 16 surgeries at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Against all odds, Breanna never lets her issues define her. She even became a U.S. Paralympic swimmer and represented Team USA at two international competitions. “My parents have shown me that I can do anything else my peers can do,” said Breanna. “I was born this way for a reason. And I could either feel sorry for myself or just continue on with my life – and [continue on] is what I’m going to do.”

With college just around the corner, the ambitious teen – who her care team calls a true inspiration – hopes to become a child life specialist, so that she’s able to impact other patient’s lives the same way the Child Life team at Cleveland Clinic Children’s impacted hers.

“It’s an honor when people call me an inspiration, but I’m just being me,” Breanna said. “I’m a normal teenager; I just have some pieces and parts missing.”

For more information on Cleveland Clinic Children’s “Shine On” Gala, visit clevelandclinicchildrensgala.org and follow Cleveland Clinic Children’s on Facebook for updates.