In August 2024, we learned the heartbreaking news that Hailey Leyva passed away. She was a shining light, and we are grateful to her and her family for sharing her story. Our hearts are with her family.
-- OHSU community
The Doernbecher Freestyle program is back for its 19th year, with six new patient-designers ready to share their inspiring stories and unique designs with the world.
As part of a partnership between Nike and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, the Doernbecher Freestyle program provides the opportunity for young patients to collaborate with Nike creative teams to design their own limited-edition collection — including footwear, apparel and equipment — with all profits benefiting the hospital. The big reveal of the full collection is slated for October 27.
Over the years, Freestyle has featured the incredible stories and creativity of more than 116 young patient-designers, as well as hundreds of Nike employee-volunteers, and engaged thousands of generous donors and community members.
The sought-after collections have been auctioned and sold — with Nike donating 100% of the retail profits — to help raise more than $33 million for the children’s hospital. These funds help cover the cost of care for families in need, expand pioneering research that benefits kids around the world and supports specialized care unavailable anywhere else in the region.
“Freestyle is always my favorite night of the year. These kids are undergoing extraordinary and challenging health journeys, so it’s incredibly rewarding to share with them this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Dana Braner, M.D., FAAP, FCCM, Credit Unions for Kids chair and professor of pediatrics (critical care) in the OHSU School of Medicine, and physician-in-chief of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. “Freestyle allows Doernbecher to deliver exceptional care to children across Oregon and the region, and we’re so grateful for the community support and industry partnerships that make this program possible.”
Meet the Doernbecher Freestyle XIX patient-designers:
Sydney Little
Age: 14
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Diagnosis: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Fun fact #1: Her favorite sport is swimming.
Fun fact #2: Her hero is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and she hopes to be a lawyer when she grows up.
Fun fact #3: Her favorite hobby is drawing and her most prized possession is her sketchbook.
Macey Bodily
Age: 15
Hometown: Yacolt, Washington
Diagnosis: Brain tumor, narcolepsy
Fun fact #1: Her favorite color is pink.
Fun fact #2: Her perfect day would include sleeping in and baking.
Fun fact #3: Her favorite subjects in school are art and American Sign Language, or ASL — she hopes to be an ASL interpreter when she grows up.
Hailey Leyva
Age: 8
Hometown: Clackamas, Oregon
Diagnosis: Congenital cyanotic heart disease
Fun fact #1: Her favorite sport is gymnastics.
Fun fact #2: When she grows up, she hopes to be a nurse.
Fun fact #3: Her perfect day would be spent playing with her friends.
Hugo Covarrubias Molina
Age: 14
Hometown: Hermiston, Oregon
Diagnosis: Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome
Fun fact #1: His favorite sports are football and basketball.
Fun fact #2: When he grows up, he dreams of owning his own barber shop.
Fun fact #3: His favorite food is Chinese food — specifically pork fried rice and General Tso’s chicken.
Christopher Musquiz, Jr.
Age: 14
Hometown: Winston, Oregon
Diagnosis: Traumatic accident
Fun fact #1: His favorite sport is football.
Fun fact #2: His favorite hobby is woodworking.
Fun fact #3: His perfect day would be spent at the beach with his family.
Garrett Amerson
Age: 12
Hometown: Yamhill, Oregon
Diagnosis: Extreme prematurity
Fun fact #1: He loves playing board games like chess.
Fun fact #2: He collects hats.
Fun fact #3: His favorite subject in school is science, and he hopes to be a scientist when he grows up.