As we look back on this year with gratitude, we are thankful for moments like this. Alexus is a lifelong Denver @Broncos fan who found herself standing on the edge of their training field earlier this year. Along with other Children’s Hospital Colorado patients, she was enjoying the unique opportunity of watching the team’s practice. Fifteen years old and six months into cancer treatment for a brain tumor, Alexus was struggling to feel like herself — like she could just relax and be a teenager. After a 9-hour surgery to remove the brain tumor in March 2022, she started radiation and chemotherapy and made the difficult choice with her family not to go back to school so that she could focus on healing. One of Alexus’ favorite pastimes is watching football with her uncles, aunt and papa. She’s the go-to family member for all the details about a player’s stats and career. Naturally, she jumped at the chance to see a Broncos practice, but she couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to actually meet the team’s new quarterback, @dangerusswilson. Let’s just say, it’s an experience she’ll never forget. When the final buzzer blew marking the end of practice, Russell Wilson walked over, gave her a big hug, prayed with her and told her he knew she’d been tough and that she could keep going. When he asked what her favorite thing to do in her free time is, while choking back tears, Alexus replied: football. Alexus’ mom, Tiffany, shares: “... It was an awesome day. Alexus had an emotional day that meant the world to her … a stress and worry-free day to just be a kid. With all she has been through and is going through, this day will always mean a lot to her.” #HereItsDifferent #ChildhoodCancer #GoodNews #DenverBroncos #CancerWarrior

Santa! We know him! Patients in our Ventilator Care Program couldn't leave the hospital to visit the big guy, so Santa came to them instead. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! #HereItsDifferent #ChildrensColo #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #Santa

Stockings: stuffed.⁣⁣ ⁣ Halls: decked.⁣⁣ ⁣ Cuteness: overloaded.⁣⁣ ⁣ Nurses and families in our NICU work hard every year to create touching holiday memories: this year with special stockings and blankets lovingly made by volunteers.⁣ We're grateful to everyone who helped these babies celebrate their first holiday season.⁣ ⁣ However and wherever you’re celebrating, happy holidays from our tiniest patients and NICU team!⁣⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #HappyHolidays #MerryChristmas #BabysFirstChristmas #NICU #PreemieStrong #NICUNurse #NICUChristmas #NICULife

We love this video shared by two very special carolers!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Thank you @ciara and @dangerusswilson for spreading holiday cheer for all patients to hear at our very own Seacrest Studios.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #HereItsDifferent #HolidayCheer #Ciara #RussellWilson #caroling #ChristmasInTheHospital #SeacrestStudios⁣ Video credit: @west2eastempire

This trio went over the top to bring joy to patients this weekend. ⁣ ⁣ Special thanks to Santa, Buddy the elf and the Grinch (his cheerful version) for dropping by! (And, of course, to @DenverFireDepartment and Rescue 2 for getting creative with their training exercise.)⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #HolidayCheer #pediatrics #Santa #ChristmasInTheHospital #MerryChristmas #ChristmasMood #rappelling

There’s nothing quite like a "pawty” at Children’s Colorado! These party animals donned their most festive attire to spread some cheer to our patients and families. ⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #PagingPuppyMD #HospitalDog #FacilityDog #ChildLife #ChildLifeSpecialist #HolidayDog

Even though Ryker was fitted for nine pairs of boots before he was 5, he didn’t start training for Olympic snowboarding at a young age, as his mom, Shelly, likes to joke.⁣ ⁣ He needed a series of casts and boots, complete with a bar that helped separate his legs and gave him a natural snowboarding stance, to treat a condition he was born with.⁣ ⁣ At Shelly’s 20-week ultrasound, Ryker was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot, which affects the bones, muscles and tendons of the feet, turning them inward. She was scared, so she joined online support groups to find the best treatment team. ⁣ ⁣ She met orthopedic surgeon Dr. Margaret Siobhan Murphy-Zane before her delivery to explore options for Ryker. Our team has a 98% success rate with the Ponseti method: a treatment that uses a series of casts and braces to rotate feet into the correct position. Shelly knew she'd found the expertise she needed and was ready to have baby Ryker.⁣ ⁣ “The whole team was in that room and they were 100% supportive,” says Shelly.⁣ ⁣ For the next five years, Ryker went through a journey of 11 casts, boots, Achilles tendon surgery and rehab to correct the inward turn of his feet. “Dr. Murphy-Zane really helped us understand what questions we would get from the outside world. I jokingly told people the brace was an Olympic training device,” says Shelly. ⁣ ⁣ From the beginning, Shelly kept all Ryker’s casts and braces as mementos of how far he had come. After years of treatment, Ryker graduated from braces and had a party to celebrate the milestone.⁣ ⁣ Now as a rambunctious 5-year-old, Ryker loves to run and play sports like soccer and Taekwondo. Last year Ryker went snowboarding for the first time, he told his parents, “I do this every night.”⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #FutureOlympian #Ponseti #clubfoot #ClubfootJourney #BootsNBar #BootsAndBars #ClubfootStrong

The reindeer are resting, and the sleigh is getting tuned up for the big night. But the season’s cheer is already spreading. Our Colorado Springs hospital had some special visitors over the weekend to rev up for the holiday season. Santa swooped in on his other ride to drop off some gifts for our patients and spread a bit of cheer alongside his friends. It was the perfect start to the most wonderful time of the year! #HereItsDifferent #SantaRide #MotorcycleSanta #HappyHolidays #ColoradoSprings #HolidaysAtChildrensColorado

Can we get a round of “a-paws" for our newest medical dog, Kit? ⁣ ⁣ Kit, MD — that's medical dog for short — will provide full-time patient care in our Pediatric Mental Health Institute alongside her new handlers, child life specialist Allie and yoga therapist Carmen. She comes to us from @CaninePartnersOfTheRockies, a nonprofit located right here in Colorado. It’s safe to say that she’s been training for this moment her whole life (because she has). ⁣ ⁣ We know Kit will fit right in around here — she is a Lab after all! ⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #PagingPuppyMD #ChildLife #ChildLifeSpecialist #FacilityDog #HospitalDog #LabsOfInstagram

It’s been two years since we celebrated Halloween in person. So, how did we make it special?⁣ ⁣ We went to space, rocked out with rockstars, found our way to Sesame Street, played games, made our own Toy Story and so much more.⁣ ⁣ Thanks to all the characters who help make this time of year fun for patients and families.⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #HappyHalloween #Halloween #HalloweenCostume #pediatrics⁣

A sushi family,⁣ Future Denver @Broncos,⁣ And the cutest nurse, too!⁣ ⁣ Our NICUs are full of whimsy this year. Thank you to our nurses and families for helping these babies celebrate their first Halloween in style!. ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #Halloween #HappyHalloween #NICU #NICUBaby #BabyCostumes

From high school intern to physician, Dr. Chisom Agbim has an impressive career journey.⁣ ⁣ Dr. Agbim interned in the Children’s Colorado Emergency Department as a high school student, an experience that changed her life. She was the very first graduate of our Medical Career Collaborative Program, an internship opportunity for local students to get hands-on hospital experience. ⁣ ⁣ Inspired by her time as an intern, Dr. Agbim decided she had to return as a physician one day, and she achieved that life goal in 2021 when she came back to Children’s Colorado as a pediatric emergency medicine physician. ⁣ ⁣ In addition to expertise and dedication, Dr. Agbim brings her lived experiences as a Black woman who grew up in Aurora to the care she provides for her patients and families.⁣ ⁣ “Occasionally I’ll hear, ‘I’m so glad you’re someone who looks like me who is here; I had no idea.’ It makes me feel good knowing that, just by me being here, it’s motivation that I can make a change.”⁣ ⁣ We’re happy to have you back, Dr. Agbim – this time as Chisom Agbim, MD!⁣ ⁣ #HereItsDifferent #AuroraColorado #RepresentationMatters #BlackDoctors #WomenInMedicine