At 16 years old, Aidan is no stranger to the hospital environment. His journey began when, at just seven weeks old, he underwent his first surgery to repair pyloric stenosis. Over the course of his 16 years, Aidan has endured five additional surgeries. It's never easy handing your baby over into a surgeon's hands.

Within his first year of life, Aidan experienced his first seizure. By 15 months, he was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by a deletion of the maternal 15th chromosome. This condition causes developmental delays, lack of speech, and debilitating seizures. To manage the seizure activity, Aidan has been placed in medically induced comas twice - once at age 3 and again at 6.

Hospitalizations bring tremendous stress not only to the children but also to their families. Throughout these challenging times, Happy Wheels has been a source of happiness, providing moments of joy and comfort. It's a small but powerful source of happiness for kids, lifting their spirits when they're at their lowest.

As both a nurse at Prisma Health Children's Hospital and a mother of a medically complex child, I've had the unique opportunity to witness Happy Wheels from both sides. I've seen the joy it brings to my little warriors that are going through so much hard stuff and I've seen the joy it brings my own son when I pick out a new toy or book to share with him. Happy Wheels is, without a doubt, the BEST.