Ten-year-old Tess Clark of Parker has had 38 surgeries since she was born with a genetic disorder.
The seams between the bones in her skull were improperly fused together, causing dangerous pressure around her brain. Over the years doctors at Children’s Hospital have worked to rebuild her skull and put a permanent shunt in her brain to drain spinal fluid. They also used a new technique to move her facial bones.
“She likes to be the caretaker,” mom Heather Clark said in a statement on a web site about her daughter. “Tess has a collection of dolls and each has their own medical condition. She doesn’t always have to be on the receiving end — she can be on the giving end.”
This year the Children’s Miracle Network named Tess one of its “Champions Across America.” The non-profit network raises money for children’s hospitals, and every year it recognizes a “child in every state who has bravely battled and triumphed despite a serious injury or illness,” the group said in a news release.
On Tuesday, Tess and the other champions met President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. The kids toured the White House and got to play on the playground on the South Lawn.
Heather Clark says Tess’ approach to life has transformed the difficult years into a “wild ride” that has encouraged the whole family to feel blessed.
Read more about the Children’s Miracle Network at .
