Meet DJ Type 1 laryngeal cleft
DJ had been aspirating since birth. Despite several years of feeding therapy, consultations with three pediatricians, and three different specialists, his family still had no clear answers—just growing worry. Last year, DJ underwent a small surgery near their home, but it didn’t bring the relief they prayed for. Then his parents discovered the Center for Airway Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital. And it changed everything. Thanks to support from Children’s Flight of Hope, DJ and his family made the journey to Boston, where he underwent successful laryngeal cleft repair surgery. Now, they’re finally on the other side of uncertainty. Once the swelling subsides, DJ will be able to transition off the thickeners he’s relied on his whole life. This is the power of one flight. One second opinion. One child’s future transformed.
"He's doing great! If all goes well, he'll be drinking water normally by the summer." —Jessica, DJ’s mom
At Children’s Flight of Hope, we walk alongside families for the duration of their journey—whether that journey takes years or a single, life-changing flight.
In addition to our larger fundraising events, our supporters continually amaze us with all of the creative ways they’ve come up with to show their support. Here are a couple of “home grown” events that were held in March.
Raleigh, NC golf tournament @ Brier Creek We were honored to serve as the charitable partner for the Brier Creek Country Club Kickoff Cup on March 29. From the first swing to the final putt, it was a day defined by powerful drives and generous hearts, with the tournament raffle raising over $5,000. We’re especially grateful to Bill Young (pictured on the right) for his leadership and to the incredible Men’s Golf Association for choosing Children’s Flight of Hope as this year’s beneficiary. This kind of support is more than a donation—it’s fuel for our mission, one flight, one child, one family at a time.
Wilmington, NC dinner Longtime supporter and former board member Joe Elphick hosted his 5th annual fundraising dinner sponsored by our friends at Fly Exclusive and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. This year’s event was particularly moving, thanks to special guest Melody, who first flew with us in 2018 to be treated for a brain tumor and now receives ongoing care at Duke Health. She attended with her mom Daisy, who was the featured speaker.
Redefining pediatric health care in North Carolina, and beyond. This year, our annual Legacy of Hope Social in March wasn’t just a chance for our most generous supporters to connect and reaffirm their commitment to the mission. It was also an opportunity to hear firsthand from Ian Buchanan and Dr. Angelo Milazzo about an incredibly exciting collaboration between UNC Health and Duke Health. The recently announced NC Children’s Hospital, the first freestanding hospital in the state dedicated to caring for children, will help ensure that even more children have access to the life-changing medical care they need, no matter the distance. NC Children’s Hospital is sure to have a huge positive impact on pediatric care in North Carolina, throughout the region, and across the country—and Children’s Flight of Hope will be there to help provide access for children everywhere!
5/8: DFW Fundraiser 6/5: Chicago Fundraiser 5/28: Team Kick off for Hops for Hope; save the date for our 10th anniversary event on September 13th! 11/7: Denim & Diamonds Watch for more details on these events, and reach out with questions or if you’d like to be involved. Thank you for being part of our community. As we build momentum and expand our services, your support doesn’t just make a difference—it makes all the difference.
