UI Children's Hospital Kid Captain 2013: Stella Turnbull

Stella, from Pella, Iowa, was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I, a genetic muscular disease. When she was just one month old, doctors at Mayo Clinic indicated she was the most medically fragile SMA patient they had ever diagnosed, giving her just weeks or months to live. Her parents researched hospitals, looking for the one they believed would give their daughter the best chance for survival.

Stella was brought to UI Children's Hospital and began working with the pediatric pulmonary team right away. In addition to her regular visits to UI Children's Hospital, Stella has been in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit several times and has undergone many surgical procedures.

Now 6 years old, Stella just finished kindergarten where she loves spending time with her friends. Read more at Stella at http://www.uichildrens.org/2013-stella.