Every year, 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals identify a “Champion” in each of their communities to serve as the face for children treated at their children’s hospital. These ambassadors spend the year advocating for the charitable needs of children’s hospitals across North America.
As the 2026 Children’s Miracle Network Champion at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, 14-year-old Fletcher Huddleston’s story is one of resilience and bravery.
On Feb. 20, 2017, Fletcher’s life — and his family’s — changed in an instant. He had been sick on and off over the previous two months, and doctors couldn’t find a connection between his various illnesses. On a day when he felt his worst, his parents took him to their local emergency department seeking answers.
“The shock was indescribable,” said Fletcher’s father, Stephen. “Just days earlier, Fletcher had been a relatively healthy boy. Now he lay in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.”
Blood tests revealed immature cells and abnormal counts, prompting his immediate transfer to UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital for further testing.
Soon after his arrival, Fletcher underwent a bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap. During recovery, he struggled with anesthesia, required a breathing tube and was rushed to the pediatric intensive care unit. Soon after, doctors confirmed a devastating diagnosis: Stage 4 Burkitt’s Lymphoma. The cancer had taken over 90% of his bone marrow, growing so aggressively that the cancerous cells could double every 24 hours.
Chemotherapy and steroids began immediately to target the aggressive Burkitt’s cells, but his body struggled to process the dying cells, eventually leading to kidney failure. He was placed on two types of dialysis, and at that moment, his family felt hope was distant.
As days turned into weeks, he slowly began to improve. With a mix of progress and setbacks along the way, each small victory — like stabilizing oxygen levels — was a reason to celebrate. Eventually, he was transferred to the Pediatric Oncology Unit, where he endured an intense chemotherapy regimen, which they referred to as “the kitchen sink approach.”
“The helplessness was overwhelming — watching our son suffer, powerless to fix it,” Becca said. “But the team at Shands — nurses, doctors and support staff — guided us through this nightmare.”
Through pain and uncertainty, Fletcher’s resilience and bravery shined. When he began to lose his hair, his parents recall him saying, “Mom, it’s just hair, and it’ll grow back. I can’t see it, anyway, so why would I care?”
A critical part of his recovery came during his time in the pediatric infusion clinic, which became a second home. It provided vital treatments that helped Fletcher keep fighting, and after five months of treatment, he completed his final round of chemotherapy on July 23, 2017, and his central line was removed just one week later.
Today, Fletcher is thriving in middle school. He’s healthy, loves hunting and enjoys playing with friends and family — living ordinary moments that feel extraordinary after his journey.
Yet, his journey as a cancer survivor lingers. Routine scans, unexpected fevers and seeing other children in treatment stirs up painful memories. Burkitt’s Lymphoma left a lasting mark, reminding his family how quickly life can change and how vital community support truly is.
Fletcher’s story is one of strength as well as the power of giving. The expert care he received at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital was made possible in part by the funding provided through Children’s Miracle Network for equipment, research and the patient support programs he and his family relied on when they needed it most.
CMN Champions play a vital role in raising awareness about the ongoing need for donations to support children’s hospitals. Through sharing their personal experiences, Fletcher and his family can illustrate the essential impact of local, unrestricted fundraising through philanthropy, and how that enables nonprofit children’s hospitals to meet the needs of their community.