Miracle Monday: Hear How CMNH Changed Mason’s Life

It's because of your donations that Mason has learned to ride a bicycle.

Mason and his mother, Heather, stopped by our studios to share their story with us. Mason is eight years old and one of the funniest kids you will meet. He's extremely charming, witty and fun. But there's so much more to Mason. He's a fighter and an inspiration to us all.

When Mason was born, Heather and her husband thought he was a healthy, happy boy. However, shortly after birth he began to develop some symptoms that set their family on a journey to discovering the cause. When Mason was about two years old when he was diagnosed with Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy.

Mason has experienced multiple hospitalizations, procedures and surgeries. He experiences many symptoms such as thermoregulation issues which prevent him from controlling his own body temperature, tachycardia which raises his heart rate more than someone typical of his age during activity, increased blood pressure, inability to sweat properly, global development delays, pain due to neuropathy, decreased strength, feeding difficulties which require him to use a feeding tube, he's hypermetabolic which means his body burns calories at an excessive rate, and the inability to walk long distances so he uses a wheelchair.

On a daily basis, Mason receives multiple rounds of medicine and various therapies. As Heather puts it, "we always have to stay one step ahead of Mason's disease." Mason utilizes three difference Children's Miracle Network Hospitals including ours in Shreveport-Bossier, while also attending Kids Clinic multiple times a week for his pediatric therapy.

It's because of your donations that Mason can go to Kids Clinic.

Kids Clinic is a program that is funded by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier. Mason does speech therapy, strength training and more. This is also the place that Mason set a goal to learn how to ride a bicycle. After multiple conversations with doctors and therapists, it was determined that Mason could try to learn, but there was no guarantee that he would be able to do it.

He proved them all wrong.

In fact, Mason is currently serving as the Cycling Kids Coach for Miracle Challenge. He's inspiring people all over the country to get fit and raise money for their local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Ever dollar raise locally, stays local.

Mason is a happy eight-year-old who always faces life head-on and always has a smile on his face. He is truly a light in this world!