What makes you unstoppable? That's a good question for Andy, Braylin, Chehayla, Chase, Corwin and Damien. These six young Doernbecher patients have all refused to let serious illness or trauma stop them from laughing, learning and dreaming big.
To know what makes these courageous young kids so unstoppable, look no further than the Doernbecher Freestyle Collection, which they created using inspiration from their own extraordinary lives. Each custom design celebrates the things that keep them going, from family and friends to personal words of wisdom. Even a famous frog makes an appearance.
Their one-of-a-kind footwear and apparel designs will launch on Saturday, 12.17, with all proceeds benefitting OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital. This remarkable fundraising partnership between Nike and OHSU has raised $14 million since the program began in 2004.
To say that Andy Grass is resilient would be an understatement. He was critically injured when a wave rolled a log over him on the beach, crushing much of his body and collapsing both lungs. He spent over three weeks at Doernbecher, where doctors worked around the clock to stabilize his injuries and get him breathing on his own again. His remarkable journey is documented on his Kyrie 2.
Within the Swoosh, the word 'Joy' honors his Aunt Peggy, who was battling breast cancer while Andy was recovering. “She and I would encourage each other a lot,” he explains. “Before she passed away, she reminded me to find joy in every day.” The shades of blue on his shoe are a shout-out to his beloved baseball and basketball teams, while his personal logo on the tongue boasts a sporty lion standing proudly on top of the log that took him down.
Remember Braylin’s name — if this aspiring young actor has anything to say about it, you’ll be seeing it in lights someday. Until then, this girl, with her unforgettable charisma
is working towards her dreams with a brand-new liver to replace the one that failed due to autoimmune hepatitis.
Her colorful personality is well represented on her Air Huarache Run Ultra, which pays homage to another talented performer, Kermit the Frog. “Of all the Muppet characters, he’s my favorite,” Braylin explained. “He’s entertaining and funny, but I also like that he’s a really nice guy.” Braylin’s shoe also offers a tribute to another special person. You’ll find six stars on the upper; those represent Braylin’s liver donor, who was six when she died. “I’m so grateful to that little girl, so I wanted to do something to honor her,” she said.
One day when Chehayla was in the hospital receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis, she looked up and spotted a flock of wooden birds hanging from the ceiling. “Mom,” she said, “the birds are like the Doernbecher staff. They take us under their wings.”
That beautiful sentiment, which is expressed inside her Air Max Zero shoe, is just one example of this vibrant girl’s charm and wisdom. Chehayla’s shoe also features her nickname, which is a testament to her favorite food: chicken nuggets. (Her older sister Talon started calling her Nugget one day, and the name stuck.) Other awesome design details include kitty cat faces, speckled laces, and tons of purple hearts — that’s to represent cystic fibrosis awareness. “Purple is the color of the ribbon we wear,” she explains.
His name is Chase, but you can call this good-natured 14-year-old ‘The Captain.’ “It’s my nickname because I’m a take-charge kind of guy,” he smiled. He’s also a really smart guy. Chase is planning on pursuing a doctorate in neuropsychology someday and currently designs websites as a hobby.
Chase designed his Air Max Zero shoe with the same attention to detail that he gives everything else in life. Under the shoelaces, tubing runs all the way to the sockliner to represent the shunt that he has had since birth to treat hydrocephalus. He was diagnosed in utero with the condition, which causes dangerous accumulation of fluid around the brain. Chase has a thing for lighthouses, so he designed one on the heel using the Nike swoosh as the light beam. And on the tongue, the words 'Unstoppable Chase' speak to his unbelievable perseverance.
Corwin Carr is a friendly, freckled kid who’s going places — literally. This adventurous 12-year-old can’t wait to grow up and get his pilot’s license so he can explore the world. (His first stop? Edmonton Canada, where his grandparents live.)
Corwin’s sky-high ambitions are clearly evident on his Stefan Janoski Max. A jumbo jet prepares for takeoff across the top, while a map of the world appears inside. As for the shoelaces, well, they just happen to be the same print as the iconic Portland airport carpet. On the pilot’s wings that surround Corwin’s logo, you’ll notice 40 feathers — those are for the 40 surgeries he’s had since he was diagnosed in utero with prune belly and VATER syndrome, a rare condition that can affect the spine, heart, digestive system, kidneys and more. It’s been a tough journey, but Corwin’s mom, Blaire, says it hasn’t shaken his unsinkable optimism.
It isn’t easy to live with a severe bleeding disorder — but Damien Phillips isn’t about to let his diagnosis of hemophilia stop him. This tenacious kid even learned to administer his own infusions, which earned him the Big Stick Award at hemophilia camp. “Once you can stick yourself with a needle, you get the award,” he said. “It’s literally a big stick!” Damien has a multidisciplinary team at Doernbecher to help out if he needs it, but he has truly taken ownership of managing his condition. That gives him more time to focus on the stuff he really loves, like playing basketball and jamming on his guitar. (He can play a mean Smoke on the Water.)
Designing the Air Jordan VII was a serious thrill for Damien, who is a huge Chicago Bulls fan. “When I found out, I was so excited, I was jumping all over the place,” he laughed. His design features red and black to represent the Bulls’ team colors, as well as rock ‘n’ roll accents like a guitar pick on the laces and a heel tab that resembles a guitar neck. Flip the shoe over, and you’ll see Damien playing a power solo on the outsole. Damien says he hopes that Michael Jordan will want to rock his shoe; he also hopes it will encourage other kids with hemophilia to stay positive.
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