Meet the Designers: Doernbecher Freestyle XVII | OHSU Foundation

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These remarkable young designers have each faced serious illness and will now inspire others and help kids at the same hospital that changed their lives. They worked hard at designing the Doernbecher Freestyle XVII collection—and are excited to share them with you.

We invite you to read on, and meet the seven Doernbecher Freestyle XVII patient-designers.

Ayman Wamala

Age: 13

Hometown: Salem, Oregon

Diagnosis: Sickle cell anemia

When I grow up: I want to be an actor

Favorite sport: Soccer

Secret talent: I’m a good cook

Zoe Taaffe

Age: 17

Hometown: Tualatin, Oregon

Diagnosis: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Goal travel destination: Greece

Prized possession: My pets – 2 dogs, 3 bunnies

Super power: Telekinesis

Catalina Vazquez

Age: 16

Hometown: Kelso, Washington

Diagnosis: Von Hippel Lindau

Favorite movie: Spirit

Goal travel destination: Galapagos Islands

Something people wouldn’t know about you: I love spiders!

Sam David Phelps

Age: 14

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Prized possession: My sports chair

Favorite movie: Home Alone

Super power: Super speed

Maylee Phelps

Age: 15

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Diagnosis: Spina bifida

Favorite sport: Wheelchair tennis

When I grow up: I want to own a bakery

Super power: Invisibility

Michael Wilson

Age: 11

Hometown: Dayton, Oregon

Diagnosis: Krabbe disease

Favorite meal: Mac and cheese

Hero: Marshall, my brother in heaven

Super power: Laser eyes

Cidni O’Brien

Age: 16

Hometown: Lebanon, Oregon

Diagnosis: Anomalous aortic origin of the left coronary artery

Favorite sport: Soccer, rodeo

Secret talent: Special effects make-up

Super power: Telekinesis

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