Celebrating Emmalee and Maritza, Our 2022 Local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champions!

Each year, local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals choose an ambassador to serve as the face for children treated at their local children’s hospital, while advocating for the charitable need of children’s hospitals across North America. This year, we chose TWO champions! We are over the moon to announce Emmalee and Maritza as our 2022 champions! Emmalee and Maritza are sisters who are ready to share their smiles with you all.

As our Champions, Emmalee and Maritza will share their stories while representing The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio at various events with donors and throughout the community. If you see these two out and about, be sure to say hello!

Emmalee was born in September 2015. At six weeks old, she was referred to Dr. Lisa Buckmiller, chief of pediatric otolaryngology at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, specializing in cleft/craniofacial reconstruction and vascular anomalies.

Emmalee was born with a cleft lip, nasal deformity, a partial left palate, and a hemangioma on her right eyelid. Her cleft lip was causing Emmalee to have difficulty bottle feeding and she was struggling to gain healthy and necessary weight.

From November 2015 to 2018, Dr. Buckmiller performed corrective surgery on Emmalee’s lip, nose, palate, and eyelid. Month by month, Emmalee’s doctors noticed a drastic change in her appearance and health. The surgeries were all a complete success!

Almost one year after Emmalee’s first surgery, baby Maritza, her little sister, was born. Upon her birth, doctors noticed Maritza was also born with a cleft lip, nasal deformity, and a partial right palate that would all require corrective surgery. Dr. Buckmiller performed a cleft lip and nose reconstruction surgery when Maritza was just nine weeks old. The family was overjoyed with another successful surgery. Because of donors like you, Emmalee and Maritza are able to share their gorgeous smiles with the world.

Joining Emmalee and Maritza this year are our Patient Ambassador Club (PAC) members, who know first-hand what it means to be given a second chance at living a healthy life. The PAC was created to give patients who have received or are currently receiving life-changing care at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, a platform to help others by being an advocate, volunteer, and a fundraiser.

To help kids like Emmalee and Maritza, as well as our patient ambassadors, please visit ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org.