Every year, two patients are chosen to represent Shriners Children’s as our International Patient Ambassadors, giving voice to the thousands of children and teens who receive life-changing care at Shriners Children’s. They speak from experience, and their stories are a powerful way to share the impact of our healthcare system.
These young role models demonstrate how Shriners Children’s patients are able to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams — while reflecting Shriners Children’s unique spirit, nurturing atmosphere and clinical excellence.
Meet Macie
The first pitch came with a mix of nerves and certainty. Standing on the mound again after surgery, Macie remembers thinking she was either ready, or she wasn’t.
“My coach started me in our first tournament of the season,” she said. “I threw that first pitch, and I knew the procedure had worked. I think I struck out the first batter.”
For Macie, a 15-year-old pitcher from Tampa, Florida, moments like that carry extra weight. Softball has been part of her life since she was 7, and she’s long hoped to play at the college level. So, when she was diagnosed at age 10 with idiopathic scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, the fear wasn’t just about treatment — it was about losing the game she loved.
— Macie
“I was scared I wouldn’t be able to play softball, or any sport, anymore,” she said.
Macie began wearing a nighttime brace and followed her treatment plan carefully, hoping to avoid progression. But despite her efforts, the curve worsened. Surgery was eventually recommended — an option that could have limited her spinal mobility and affected her ability to pitch.
Macie’s mother, Michelle, a pediatric nurse, began searching for alternatives. That led her to Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and spine surgeon Amer Samdani, M.D., who is a pioneer of vertebral body tethering (VBT). VBT uses a flexible, belt‑like tether attached to individual vertebrae. As the child grows, the tether guides the spine into a straighter position — without sacrificing flexibility. The procedure is only possible for children who are still growing, and Macie was an ideal candidate.
In October 2023, she and her mother drove 17 hours from Tampa to Philadelphia for surgery.
Macie’s recovery moved quickly. Within two months, she was back on the mound.
A year later, follow-up imaging told the rest of the story.
“It was a completely different picture,” said Macie. “It showed me my spine had changed and that I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.”
In 2025, Macie was invited to the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and meet players on the University of Alabama softball team — an experience she still calls unforgettable.
Now a Shriners Children’s International Patient Ambassador, she said her motivation is simple.
“I want to give back because I don’t think anything could ever repay Shriners Children’s for what they did for me,” she said. “The Shriners are the best example of the most caring, giving people. It’s amazing to see that kind of passion and dedication to kids.”
Meet Colton
The decision came early in life, long before Colton could remember it. When he was born, his family was told he had fibular hemimelia — the absence of the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg — along with a shorter leg, bowed tibia, malformed ankle and missing toe.
His mother, Becky, still remembers the uncertainty of his condition in those early days and the moment they first walked into Shriners Children’s St. Louis. “You could literally feel the warmth, the love and the caring before we even talked to anybody,” she recalled.
At Shriners Children’s St. Louis, orthopedic surgeon Perry Schoenecker, M.D., outlined two possible treatment paths. One involved a series of limb‑lengthening surgeries beginning around age 8 or 9, together with ankle reconstruction — a long process that can take five to 10 years. The other was amputation at the ankle and then fitting the baby for a prothesis.
The family chose amputation and has never regretted that decision. Colton had his first surgery when he was 1 and received his first prosthesis shortly after that. He is currently on his tenth prosthetic device.
— COLTON
While his prosthesis makes him different from friends and classmates, Colton knows it also provides him opportunities. He is able to show that with diligence and a dream, anything is possible, no matter the hurdles. “I’m sticking out for a reason,” he said.
An accomplished student-athlete, Colton has competed in wrestling, baseball, basketball and track, and currently participates in football and golf for his high school. He plays both offensive and defensive line for his high school football team and played in two high school golf tournaments. Colton has been a patient ambassador at the Kansas Shrine Bowl many times, even serving as a manager for the West team since 2024. His goal is to return to the field — this time as a player in 2027.
Colton lives in a small Kansas town surrounded by miles of wide-open wheat fields. He loves the freedom of rural life, where everything he needs — school, the coffee shop, the golf course, the football field — is close and familiar. Whether raising and showing pigs as part of his youth agricultural project or tackling daily farm work alongside his grandpa, uncle and cousin, Colton is always up for the task.
Colton speaks about Shriners Children’s with deep affection and loyalty and is grateful for the opportunity to help others as he was helped.
“My favorite part of being an International Patient Ambassador is being able to share how special Shriners Children’s is,” he said. “They’re not just doctors and nurses — they’re part of your family.”
