To date, Jessica has undergone four surgeries and had problems with her legs, causing her to wear braces and go to countless hours of physical therapy. Jessica’s mom, Sheila Gregory, remembers the hardest part of Jessica’s illness was teaching Jessica to catheterize herself so that she could go to school like other kids her age. This was the only way she would be able to learn that if she fell or stumbled - Jessica would have to get back up. “We could not walk for her or catheterize her. She had to learn for herself,” said Sheila. 

With the support of a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses, such as orthopaedic surgeon Laura Tosi, MD, urologist Hans Pohl, MD, and Nurse Doris Carlson, RN, Jessica confronted her challenges and went beyond her limits. “Children’s team of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists kept encouraging Jessica to dream of the future and work hard every day,” said Jessica’s mom.

Jessica’s physical therapist encouraged her to try a new form of therapy, kung fu. Sheila enrolled her in Little Ninja classes. Martial arts were not easy for Jessica. At the beginning she would fall a lot, but with her positive attitude Jessica would always get right back up.

Today, Jessica can run and kick; she even has a blue belt in kung fu. Her doctors and nurses never gave up on her and always made her feel like she was capable of doing more. Thanks to the world-class care and collaboration Jessica’s team of doctors, she is a happy and energetic 11 year old who is able to dream of her future.