Doctors didn’t expect Mateo Hernández to live more than a few days after being born.
But in May, Mateo, who receives treatment at the UF Health Congenital Heart Center for a heart condition, will turn 3 years old. During the closing ceremonies of UF’s Dance Marathon, the toddler stood with his family and looked out at the more than 800 students who raised money for children like him.
Mateo’s father, Mauricio, and the rest of his family were the final miracle family to take the stage after the 26.2 hourlong Dance Marathon. Hernández said the dancers gave him hope.
“We’re proud of these kids, it’s just amazing,” Hernández said. “We told them, ‘If you guys need anything, from now on, you’re stuck with us.’”
At the end of the event, Dance Marathon organizers held up signs announcing students raised $2,724,324 for Children’s Miracle Network, which donates to pediatric hospitals. About $2.4 million was raised in Spring 2016, according to Alligator archives.
Jacob Daniels, a 19-year-old UF psychology freshman, shaved “FTK,” which stands for “For the Kids,” and “DM” into the sides of his hair prior to the event. Daniels said he met the child his team supports, a 1-year-old named Reilly, twice.
Reilly has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that leaves half of his heart underdeveloped. Daniels said meeting Reilly made the experience worth it.
“To meet the child you’re making a difference for, that is the highlight of it,” he said. “Our feet are killing us right now, but you think of Reilly and you think of the miracle kids, and it’s like you’re doing it for them.”
Dasani McLeod-Geohagen, a 16-year-old student at Seminole Ridge High School, said she attended the UF event to support the dancers and celebrate her high school raising $41,000.
McLeod-Geohagen said when she was 14 years old, she was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a type of brain tumor. She received treatment at the Miami Children’s Hospital and UF Health Jacksonville.
In the future, she said she wants to get more involved with Dance Marathon to help children who went through serious medical experiences like hers.
“You don’t want any other child to go through that,” she said.
Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen
A child runs through the crowd of dancers during Dance Marathon at the O'Connell Center on Sunday. Dance Marathon is an event where volunteers must stay awake and on their feet for 26.2 hours.
