CAPTAIN INFORMATION

Mikaela Bradley
Grand Rapids, Michigan

I am 10½ years old and was born with Neurofibromatosis (NF). It is a genetic condition that happened to me spontaneously (that means my mom or dad don’t have NF). Lots of people have NF (about 1 in 3000) but many people don’t know much about it. I am trying to help you know more about NF and how I am affected by it.

Neurofibromatosis has two types. I have Type One. Some of the signs that show I have NF1 are many brown patches all over my skin – we call then angel kisses, but their official name is café- au-lait spots. I also have lots of freckles on my body. The thing most people notice about me related to my NF is that I wear a brace on my left leg. I have a bend in my tibia bone and the brace helps it stay supported and strong so it won’t break. If my leg did break, it might not heal together correctly. This Spring I have to have a second surgery on my leg because it is growing longer than my other leg. This makes my hips uneven and it’s harder to walk and run. My doctors are going to put pins in both side of my tibia bone so it will stop growing. I’ll have to wear a whole leg immobilizer for a month while it heals. At least it should be off by summer!

I do really well in school and don’t have a hard time understanding or learning. More than half the people who have NF have trouble learning so I am very blessed. My muscles aren’t as strong as I’d like, that is probably related to NF as well. I have to work really hard in gym and even sometimes with speaking clearly. I can do it all though, I just need to take my time. Sometimes I get frustrated because I can’t run fast or jump as well like other kids my age. I LOVE soccer, but because it is such a physical sport I can’t play it, except in my backyard.

Winter is also tough because I can’t really get a boot to fit over my brace to skate or ski. I get to have my brace off for swimming, so summer is great fun for me!

I got to walk in the 5th/3rd Riverbank 5K last year. We got tons of people together to walk for NF and raise money. I even got the run the last 100 yards of the 25K race with my dad. It was pretty cool! I am so excited to be in the 25K this year myself. I can’t wait to meet the Angels who will push me through the race. myTeamTriumph is giving me a neat chance to show people that even though I have NF, it won’t stop me! Someday I hope I can run the 25K, but it won’t be this year for sure.

Special note: Now that’s an education! I hope you’ve learned a thing or two about NF – I certainly have! Isn’t it amazing though that regardless of all that life throws at us, it always holds promise. And Mikaela is proof of that. I look forward to racing with Mikaela and learning a few more things about LIFE from her.

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