Back to School, Back to DM, Back to Miracles...

Hey there Miracle Makers! Welcome back to the Capstone. The University of Alabama Miracle Network Dance Marathon is approaching our 6th active year on UA’s campus, and being a part of a school known for breaking records--always pushing to be better, we are pushing for our DM to be better in the same way. This year we want to unite our student body by including all possible campus organizations, and reach out to all available individuals to ensure that our message is heard. “One Generation, Fighting for the Next.” As our student population grows, we hope to create a yearlong fundraising effort, and event that is as big and impressive as our student body.  But why should you desire to join such an effort, you ask? The staff and miracle makers come from diverse organizations all across campus, all for the same cause, for the kids. Over the next few weeks, we will ask some of our current staff members and miracle makers what made them join the DM movement.
Firstly, a fundraising rockstar with a personal connection to CMNH and an increased passion to serve others. 

"My name is Emily Cvitanovich and this is my story on why I joined University of Alabama Dance Marathon. In 1995, my only sister Mary Beth was born. Little did my parents know, that this perfect baby girl was going to have a neurological disorder called Rett Syndrome. As long as I've been alive, I've never heard Mary Beth speak. She can't walk independently, she has frequent seizures, and she is severely disabled. After traveling all over the country looking for answers, my parents found the world's expert on Rett Syndrome at Children's Hospital in Alabama.
When Mary Beth was 7, the doctors said that her spinal curve was over 65 degrees. They said she would not live to see her 13th birthday, that her heart and her lungs would be crushed. After hearing the news, my parents made the heart-wrenching decision for Mary Beth to have a full spinal fusion surgery.
Because we chose Children's Hospital, Mary Beth was able to have one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country perform surgery on her. Today, Mary Beth is 21 years old, and we continue to bring Mary Beth to Children's of Alabama every year. Thanks to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, she was able to go to her senior prom and walk at graduation with my graduating class. Thanks to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, they have given us a great quality of life that my sister might not have had and that we might not have gotten to experience with her.
            They truly are "Miracle Workers" and being a part of an organization that boldly supports my family and other families just like us is what makes me so thankful and beyond happy to proudly say that I am a part of University of Alabama Dance Marathon, and we support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals." -UA Sophomore Emily Cvitanovich, UADM Assistant Director of Fundraising, SGA Director of Fundraising, Phi Mu Sorority