Felicia Ragland, 13, is your typical teenage girl.  She enjoys texting, fashion and painting her nails.  Yet, Felicia has a rare inherited disease called Marquio Syndrome - a disease with many symptoms; most notable is the abnormal development of the spine and other bones. After a two-month stay in the hospital due to a major surgery on her neck, she has something more than most - courage. Felicia remembers being very nervous the day of her surgery.  "It was my first major surgery in my life," she explained.

Felicia spends three days a week at The Rehabilitation Institute.  "When I come here, I feel good because I'm getting a lot of help and I never did before," says Felicia of her time spent in the Adolescent Day Treatment program.  With the assistance of her Physical Therapist, she is strengthening her legs and walking.  In Occupational Therapy sessions, she is strengthening her wrists.  As a short term goal, she laughed, "I want to be able to roll around on the floor."  Slowly, she is making gains to transition back to school at South Valley Middle School in Liberty, Missouri at the end of her 20 sessions with her Institute support team helping to keep her on-track.

We are all excited for Felicia's progress and cannot wait until she reaches her long-term goal of being a fashion designer.  We could all use a little fashion advice from a girl with guts.