Born on October 3, 2023, in California, Seraphim has faced more medical challenges in his first year than most experience in a lifetime. He was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare congenital condition that affects the large intestine and causes problems with passing stool, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Since birth, Seraphim has undergone multiple surgeries, hospital stays, and medical complications, but his spirit has remained unshakably bright.
“He’s had so many surgeries,” says his mother, Micaela, “but somehow, he’s still the happiest little soul you’ll ever meet.”
Before Miracle Flights entered their lives, each day was a struggle. Seraphim was bleeding daily, filling his colostomy bag, and unable to tolerate his G-tube feeds. He relied on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), an intravenous source of nourishment, and needed regular iron infusions due to blood loss. Pain was a constant part of his life, especially at night. Micaela remembers how he would cry from the soreness and irritation caused by his condition. “He was so tough—it took a lot to get him down—but we could see the pain in his eyes.”
The idea of traveling out of state for medical care felt impossible. Between the financial strain and the uncertainty of navigating new places, Micaela felt overwhelmed. “When you’re told the best care for your child is hundreds of miles away, it’s terrifying,” she says. “We didn’t know how we were going to make it happen.”
That’s when Miracle Flights stepped in. With compassion and efficiency, the organization arranged travel for Seraphim and his family to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, where a specialized team was ready to help. “Their process was easy and comfortable. It was one less thing we had to worry about, and that made all the difference,” Micaela shares. “Miracle Flights played a part in changing our son’s life.”
And change it did. For the first time, Seraphim began to thrive. He was finally able to come off TPN—something that once felt impossible. The bleeding stopped. The pain eased. He began to sleep peacefully through the night, free from the constant discomfort that had defined his early months. Most of all, he found freedom.
“He doesn’t have to carry two pumps on his back anymore,” says Micaela. “He can play better, laugh louder, and enjoy life like a one-year-old should. We’ve never seen him this happy.”
For Micaela and her family, the transformation has been nothing short of life-changing. “We now have access to doctors who care, who don’t give up, and who are available around the clock to support us. We finally feel like we’re not doing this alone. For the first time in his life, we have hope that things will get better.”
