“I’m not your typical sick kid”

“Doctors would treat us differently because I had been to a few different hospitals across the country. They would shut us down when we said that we’d had to go to so many physicians for care. And that was really hard, because my parents are trying to do the best thing for me, and I’m only trying to be a normal teenager.”

Savannah and her best friend laugh at something on her phone.
Savannah goofs off in the studio with her best friend, a fellow dancer.

In some ways, Savannah Cooper is an incredibly normal seventeen-year-old: she’s bubbly and fun, passionate about music and makeup, and loves goofing around with her best friend. But in other ways, she’s extraordinary. She’s a gifted dancer and an excellent student who’s about to attend one of the top musical theater programs in the country. She’s the founder of a 501(c)(3). She’s poised and confident beyond her years. And she’s chronically ill.

Savannah practices a dance pose in front of a large mirror at her dance studio.
“I had surgery at seven years old, and I was back to dancing a few weeks later.”

Savannah has battled mysterious symptoms all her life. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Tethered Cord Syndrome at age seven, but continues to deal with chronic, nearly-constant kidney infections that can’t be completely controlled or pinpointed to a specific cause. She’s been treated at hospitals across the country as she and her family have looked for answers.

Black and white photo of Savannah laying in a hospital bed smiling with a thumbs up.
“There is light even in the moment when it feels like there is none.”

“Chronically ill and undiagnosed children live a life of uncertainty,” said Savannah. “It can sometimes feel like you’re just going around and around and you can’t get out of this black hole of sickness and appointments.”

Savannah leans against a railing in her dance leotard and smiles. Her IV port is visible on her chest.
“My goal is to educate, empower, and inspire chronically ill patients and their families.”

Not long after her longtime doctor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital retired, Savannah got seriously ill and needed to be admitted at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. She and her family were skeptical after being disappointed by previous experiences at other hospitals. But Savannah’s team at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, led by Dr. Sean McTigue, exceeded all expectations.

Savannah looks in a mirror and prepares to access her own port to administer IV medications.
Savannah prepares to access her own port to administer IV medications.

“I felt like he really listened to me, not only as a patient, but as a person, and made sure that I was able to have a normal life outside of this sickness that takes so much from me. And the nurses at UK HealthCare are my favorite people—I love them all. They’ve been amazing, they always support me and encourage me.”

Savannah poses for a photo with four nurses from her care team.
“The nurses at UK HealthCare are my favorite people. I'm going to miss them so much when I go to college.”

That support has allowed Savannah to continue dancing, which she’s been doing since age three, and performing in musical theater, which she’s been doing since she was eight. “It’s become like my own physical therapy. It’s taught me so much about my own body and making the choices that will keep me healthy. It’s kept me fit, and encouraged and motivated.”

Savannah and her nurse do a victory cheer after Savannah successfully accesses her own port.
Celebrations ensue after Savannah successfully accesses her own port.

Even through recurring infections and hospitalizations, Savannah has remained dedicated to her art, her relationships and her schoolwork. But she wanted to do more to help others facing the same frustrating situations she and her family had found themselves in time and time again.

Savannah dances on stage in a black, longsleeved, leotard at StarQuest Dance Competition.
Savannah’s been dancing since she was three years old. For her, it’s a form of therapy.

“We decided that something needed to happen. So we started talking about patient advocacy, and I joined a patient advocacy board at Cincinnati Children’s. That inspired me to start my own foundation to do the same thing. I founded SavSTRONG to educate, empower and inspire chronically ill patients and their families.”

A close up of light blue silicone bracelets imprinted with #SAVSTRONG
SavSTRONG raises awareness and funds for chronically ill patients and their families.

Through SavSTRONG, Savannah has been able to share her story and educate healthcare providers and the public about what chronically ill patients go through every day. “Kindness is key,” she said. “You never know what someone is going through.”

A sign in Savannah's dance studio that says "Darling the one thing you have that nobody else has is you, your voice, your mind, your story, your vision, so write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can"
A sign at Savannah’s dance studio echoes her passion about sharing her story.

And for those going through chronic illness, she has another message: “It’s okay not to do everything like everyone else. But you’re a lot braver and stronger than most people even know.”

Savanna leans against and stretches her leg on a ballet barre.
“I could not do any of this being as sick as I have been without a wonderful team at UK HealthCare.”

Learn more about how we help patients like Savannah at UK HealthCare’s Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

Portrait of Kylee TysonHannah, Kase's mother, holds a smiling Kase. Kase has a tracheostomy tube in his neck to help him breathe.