Family members along with Speedway District Managers held a special welcome home celebration for Caydence at the Myrtle Beach Airport on June 12.

Caydence Quesada, a McLeod Children’s Hospital Ambassador, received a special invitation from Speedway to represent the hospital during the 2019 Speedway Miracle Tournament in Dayton, Ohio on June 10 and 11.

During the tournament, Caydence had the opportunity to meet Miss America Nina Franklin, have a photoshoot with a professional photographer, represent McLeod Children’s Hospital in a parade of miracle children along with many more activities. All proceeds of the tournament support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals including McLeod.

In addition to her attendance at the golf tournament, Caydence designed a Snapple bottle label which will be sold in Speedway stores across South Carolina and North Carolina this Fall.

In 2013, Caydence was diagnosed with septo optic dysplasia, a rare congenital condition characterized by the underdevelopment of the optic nerve, pituitary gland dysfunction, and the absence of the septum pellucidum (part of the brain connecting the two hemispheres). While most individuals have only two of the three components, Caydence joins the 30 percent of people who have all three, according to the National Institutes of Health. Caydence’s treatment plan consists of daily low-dose growth hormone injections to balance any hormone deficiencies she may have as well as routine blood work and cortisol stress tests. In addition to growth hormone and cortisol injections, Caydence undergoes weekly occupational, physical, and speech therapy both in school and at McLeod Pediatric Rehabilitation. In 2018, Caydence was named a McLeod Children’s Hospital Ambassador and continues to participate in local and state activities to help raise awareness of the services McLeod Children’s Hospital provides children from the Midlands to the Coast.

The regional referral center for 15 counties, McLeod Children’s Hospital cares for more than 56,000 children each year including inpatient, outpatient, and rehabilitative services.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH), a non-profit organization, raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals across the country, including McLeod. A hallmark of CMNH, 100 percent of every dollar raised in a community stays there to help children in need. Donations to McLeod Children’s Hospital and CMNH create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves lives of children living in northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina. Business partners in eight South Carolina and North Carolina counties – Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, Marlboro, Robeson, and Scotland – directly support McLeod Children’s Hospital through fundraising efforts.