10-year-old Faces Uphill Fight with Help from New Best Friend

Audria is spunky, smart, and strong—she’s also a Children’s Hospital SUPERHERO. One normal day, ten-year-old Audria felt a severe pain in her leg and she fell to the floor. She couldn’t get up on her own.

That day, she was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord.

Audria has not walked since that day.

Audria was taken to Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, where she received treatment and care, but one particular person related to her in a special way. Krista, who served as Audria’s Recreational Therapist forged a special bond with the young patient.

Together, they played games, did exercises to keep Audria sharp and motivated, and worked on regaining skills. Krista and Audria even worked together to create a calendar of daily tasks Audria could do when she returned home, like brushing her hair and getting dressed.

Audria is a fighter. With the help of her sidekick, and now one of her best friends, Krista, she was released from the hospital one month earlier than expected.

She quickly returned home and learned to master her new superpower – using her wheelchair.

June 8 is National Best Friend Day and we recognize all the best friends/sidekicks who support our Superheros at Children’s Hospital.

You too can join us in supporting the fight of all our brave Superheroes.

Be a SIDEKICK.