At 2 ½ years old, Emiliana spent her days doing all the things a toddler should be: learning at daycare, visiting bookstores, playing soccer with her younger sister, Carmela, and getting excited to start ballet. For her mom, Kat, life felt picture-perfect enjoying every moment with her two energetic daughters.
That all changed in the summer of 2024 when one of Emiliana’s daycare teachers noticed she was waking up from naps distressed, teary-eyed and unable to calm down. The episodes continued until she was crying almost every day, vocalizing her pain and experiencing erratic spells of nausea and fevers lasting for weeks.
By the time she was admitted to UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, Emiliana refused to walk because of the pain and struggled to keep her balance. “We had so many teams of doctors come into her room every day — infectious disease, general pediatrics and neurology,” said her mother, Kat, who is a college counselor at Oak Hall School. “It’s exhausting seeing your kid not improving.”
After days of medication, bloodwork, spinal taps and MRIs, Kat and her husband had answers. Emiliana had MOGAD, or Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack nerves in the central nervous system. Similar to multiple sclerosis, MOGAD is strictly a relapse‑driven disease, in which damage only occurs during sudden, distinct attacks.
While having a diagnosis gave the family answers, it also meant learning how to navigate a disease they had never heard of before.
Under the care of UF Health pediatric neurology resident Michael Lattanzi, M.D., Kat and her husband learned patience during the most nerve-wracking moments. “(Dr. Lattanzi) has always made us feel heard and comfortable, and we will miss him as he heads off to his fellowship,” Kat said. “Families who get to work with him in the future are very lucky.”
Emiliana spent 10 days in the hospital receiving treatment including five days of high‑dose IV steroids to reduce nerve inflammation. Before she was discharged, she began a long steroid taper to prevent a relapse. With the help of occupational and physical therapy, she regained her ability to walk normally and fully recovered.
After months of doing well, she experienced a relapse during the 2025 holiday break, and was readmitted to Pediatric Medical Surgical Unit 44. Under the care of her UF Health pediatrician Melissa Fitzgerald, M.D.,Emiliana received her second steroid taper. Today, she visits the UF Health Pediatric Infusion Center and Specialties Clinic monthly for IVIG infusions to reset her immune system.
Throughout these stays, Emiliana and her family found support in the programs and people that helped make the stressful moments better. The ability to stay at North Central Florida Ronald McDonald House during her first visit to the children’s hospital made traveling from their Ocala home easier and allowed her family to remain together as much as possible.
Child Life quickly became an important and favorite part of her time in the hospital. She looked forward to frequent visits with toys to keep her morale up. The newly renovated playroom connecting units 44 and 45 allowed her to leave her patient bed to play games and color, helping her still feel like a kid. On infusion days, she always looked forward to the snack tray and toy closet, calling them her “special treats for being a brave girl.”
Whether it’s a place to stay close to the hospital, Child Life specialists who help children cope through play or spaces designed to make the hospital feel a little less intimidating, those moments of comfort make a difficult journey feel a little more manageable.
“It’s so hard to be a kid trapped in a single room all day,” Kat said. “Making the space as bright and welcoming as possible makes the entire experience a little less scary.”
Today, Emiliana is a 4-year-old cheerleading star who loves Disney princesses, coloring and painting. She finds comfort in her favorite doll, given as a gift from Child Life; she named the doll after the Disney princess from “Encanto,” Mirabel.
For her family, one of the hardest parts of the diagnosis was feeling alone. Though they had the support of friends and family, it was difficult not having someone who could relate to what they were going through. Thanks to Children’s Miracle Network partners, programs and donors, families at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, like Emiliana’s, have access to services that support them beyond medical treatment.
“We want other families to know there is brightness ahead and to show our daughter that she is not the only kid dealing with something hard,” Kat said. “We want her and other kids to feel empowered and take pride in the strength they exhibit every day.”