The year 2015 included three stories about “little fighters,” children who faced serious health challenges and continue that fight to this day.
The three kids battling are:
• Kinsley Zondervan, daughter of Peter and Kristiana Kay Zondervan, who was born earlier this year with a serious heart defect and had to undergo surgery. She is recuperating at home with her mom, an elementary teacher at Wayland schools, and her dad, a member of the Wayland Board of Education.
• Dawson Babiak, who a year ago at age 4 was diagnosed with leukemia and since has been undergoing extensive treatments. The son of Hopkins teacher Jason Babiak and Wayland teacher Alison Babiak, he spearheaded a holiday toys drive for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment.
• Lilly Vanden Bosch, age 10, of Dorr, who underwent a bone marrow transplant procedure at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Nov. 27. The daughter of Tom and Meg Vanden Bosch, she has remained there since in attempts to rebuild her immune system.
Bekah Skrycki 3-1/2 year old daughter of Joe & Amy Skrycki has been battling leukemia since early November at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Her older siblings attend St. Stans and they have lived in the area for 13 years.