From NICU to Kindergarten: Camila’s Remarkable Progress

Five‑year‑old Camila loves music, Disney movies, dancing, and keeping her three devoted older brothers on their toes. This year, she is honored as the Mr. East Valley Miracle Child, a celebration of her strength and the community that has supported her since birth.

Camila arrived in 2020, during the height of COVID. Doctors at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital’s NICU worked diligently to understand why she struggled with feeding, had a persistent cough, shoulder dysplasia, and jaundice. After weeks of tests and uncertainty, her care team determined she needed surgery to place a feeding tube so she could safely receive nutrition. As her recovery progressed slowly and steadily, Camila was referred to Children’s Village for occupational, speech, and feeding therapy.

“We spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital in Camila’s first years,” her mom, Yuri, shares. “But we had a team of people, her therapists and doctors, who really helped her and helped us.”

Today, Camila is thriving in kindergarten. She no longer needs a feeding tube. She walks, plays, dances, and is beginning to speak in words and phrases. She is learning to sound out letters and read sight words. She looks forward to dance class each week and loves watching Spider‑Man movies with her oldest brother.

This year, Camila’s middle brother is a Mr. East Valley contestant, raising funds through the YouthWorks program to support children’s health in the Yakima Valley. Through your generosity, families like Camila’s receive the therapies, resources, and support they need to help their children grow, learn, and thrive.