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 XVIII collection—and are excited to share them with you.
Read on, and meet the six Doernbecher Freestyle XVIII patient-designers.
Coley Miller
Age: 11
Hometown: Chiloquin, Oregon
Diagnosis: Kidney transplant
Favorite sport: Basketball
Perfect day: Playing outside with family
When I grow up: I want to be a veterinarian
Dario Villaseñor Valdivia
Age: 13
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Diagnosis: Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
Secret talent: Voice impressions, singing and jokes
When I grow up: I want to be an animator
Perfect day: Eating Chinese food and seeing the people I love
Emerson Harrell
Age: 15
Hometown: Sherwood, Oregon
Diagnosis: Inflammatory bowel disease
Heroes: My parents
Secret talent: I’m a good dancer
Favorite school subject: Math – I’m good at doing it in my head
Jaren Heacock
Age: 10
Hometown: Springfield, Oregon
Diagnosis: Cleft palate
Favorite athletes: My brother and sisters
When I grow up: I want to be an engineer, artist, designer – and maybe a doctor
Fun fact: I like to sing and grow plants
Kylee Young
Age: 12
Hometown: Ridgefield, Washington
Diagnosis: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) survivor
Favorite color: Pink, then the rest of the rainbow
Secret talent: Making friends
Perfect day: See my family and go on an adventure
Riddhi Mahajan
Age: 15
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Diagnosis: Cystic fibrosis
Favorite athlete: Serena Williams
When I grow up: I want to be a doctor
Prized possession: A pair of earrings from my late grandmother
