On his 11th birthday, Hunter didn’t blow out candles or open presents – he was being transferred to Children’s Hospital Colorado’s emergency department in Aurora. His family had just canceled his birthday party, and instead of celebrating, they were bracing for another hospital stay, desperate for answers.
For months, Hunter had been battling unexplained vomiting, severe weight loss, and constant fatigue. Once a high-energy, never-slow-down kind of kid, he was suddenly sleeping all the time – a red flag for his parents, Emily and Dave. “He’s always been a go-go-go kid,” Emily says. “When he wanted to sleep all the time, we knew something was seriously wrong.”
Hunter spent much of 2024 in and out of the hospital losing nearly 80 pounds and struggling to keep anything in his system. After multiple procedures – endoscopies, MRI’s, and CT scans – Hunter was finally diagnosed with a rare form of Crohn’s disease. It was the answer that began a new phase in his care.
His disease was complex, and the team at Children’s Colorado met it with a compassionate, multidisciplinary approach. “They explained everything to Hunter in a way he could understand,” Dave says. “They treated him like a person, not just a patient.” Hunter’s care is now managed through the Digestive Health Institute (DHI) and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD), where he receives regular infusions and ongoing monitoring.
Despite the physical toll, Hunter remained hopeful and determined. He returned to school, joined the robotics team, and even tried out for basketball – a sport he had to pause due to a shoulder fracture caused by malnourishment. Through it all, he remained hopeful and determined, inspiring everyone around him.
One bright spot during his stays at Children’s Colorado was the Patricia Crown Family T(ween) Zone, a donor-supported space where kids ages 10 years and older can play, connect, and just be themselves. For Hunter, it was more than a distraction – it was a place where he could feel normal again. “It got me up and moving,” he says. “Every time I come back to the hospital; I go there for hours.”
Hunter now dreams of becoming a nurse, inspired by caregivers who made him laugh and helped him feel safe while at the hospital. He also hopes to volunteer in the T(w)een Zone one day, giving back to the place that helped him heal.
