Jacksonville girl donates birthday gifts to Wolfson Children’s Hospital
When Hayden Smith turned 10 in July, she had an unusual gift request.
She didn’t want any. She wanted her birthday presents to go to patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville.
Hayden was once one of them. In 2021, she underwent successful surgery to correct a rare congenital brain and skull disorder.
“I wanted to throw a party and donate all my gifts to Wolfson. I wanted every child to smile like I did before my … surgery,” the fourth-grader said. “Every time I go there, they treat me like family.”
Her bond with Wolfson began when she was 6 years old and was diagnosed with a condition called Chiari malformation, “where there isn’t enough room in the skull for the brain,” Wolfson said. She was referred to Dr. Philipp Aldana, a pediatric neurosurgeon and co-director of the Stys Neuroscience Institute at Wolfson.
“In Hayden’s case, the structure at the bottom of the skull that contains the brain stem and cerebellar tonsils, or the opening behind the brain, was obstructing the flow of spinal fluid,” he said. “Without diagnosis and treatment, this could have resulted in permanent numbness or weakness in her body, difficulty swallowing, and problems with balance and coordination.”
The surgery was scheduled for July 8, 2021, six days before Hayden’s 7th birthday.
Wolfson’s Child Life specialists, who help children ease their anxiety through education, support and play, knew her birthday was approaching “and made her feel very special,” said her mother, Laura Smith.
After her one-year and three-year checkups, Aldana said Hayden was doing so well that she didn’t need another checkup for three years. “We feel truly blessed to have this kind, outgoing child who makes us so proud and doesn’t let anything stop her from pursuing her dreams,” her mother said.
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