“Although from day one I have had my struggles, I am now here present and I’m going against the odds that were set for me.”

- Maddy Levy

Maddy Levy

College: Missouri State University - Fall, 2026

Her CDH Story: Maddy Levy’s life has been shaped by the medical world from the very beginning—and those experiences have given her a remarkable sense of empathy for children and families facing challenges of their own.

Diagnosed with right-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at 28 weeks gestation, Maddy has faced ongoing medical complications related to CDH throughout her life. Medicine was also part of her family: her mother spent 20 years as a NICU nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and was working there when Maddy was born, documenting her daughter’s earliest treatments and helping her family navigate the uncertainty surrounding CDH.

Years later, their roles shifted when Maddy’s mother was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer at age 44. Suddenly, Maddy found herself helping care for the person who had spent her life caring for her. She stepped in at home—doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, cleaning, and helping her younger siblings get where they needed to go while her mother underwent treatment.

Rather than viewing those experiences only through the lens of hardship, Maddy sees them as formative. Her own CDH journey and her mother's battle with cancer taught her that a difficult diagnosis does not have to dictate the life that follows. That perspective has helped direct Maddy toward a future dedicated to helping children overcome challenges of their own.

Hobbies and Interests: Maddy has already made service to children a significant part of her life. For the past five years, she has worked with Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, including as a camp counselor for children with special needs. There, she works one-on-one with children ages 4–14, helping with everything from feeding and swimming to everyday activities while encouraging them to achieve their individual goals.

She has also helped promote inclusion through Special Olympics and played a leadership role in helping her high school become a Unified Champion School. At school, Maddy has been active in Student Council, HOSA, DECA, and National Honor Society while maintaining a 3.94 weighted GPA and completing four years of the PLTW Biomedical Sciences program.

Professional Aspirations: Maddy will attend Missouri State University, where she plans to study Exercise Science before pursuing graduate training in Occupational Therapy. Her goal is to become a pediatric occupational therapist, working with children in either a hospital or outpatient setting.

For Maddy, that career represents an opportunity to give back to the medical community that has given so much to her. She remembers the nurses who spent countless hours caring for her and wants to bring that same patience, attention, and encouragement to the children she serves.

She also hopes to become an advocate for CDH by sharing her story—particularly with children struggling today and parents uncertain about what their child's future might hold. One of her dreams is to someday speak at a CDH event and offer families something that was so important throughout her own journey: hope that their child can survive, thrive, and break the odds set before them.

Maddy has spent her life surrounded by people who care for others. Now, she is determined to make caring for others the story of her own future.

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