About Braxton's Buddies

Carli Belle was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on January 30, 2025, just before her 2nd birthday, after being hospitalized in severe diabetic ketoacidosis. She spent a week in the PICU at Minneapolis Masonic Children’s Hospital and is now home, using a CGM and her first insulin pump (as of Sept. 4) to manage her condition. 

Carli enjoys her sister’s softball games, painting her nails, and watching Bluey. Her family is deeply grateful to Masonic Children’s Hospital and the TB1 Fund for their support during her diagnosis and treatment. 

Kolby was born prematurely at 32 weeks and has faced significant medical challenges, including bacterial meningitis, CMV, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and dysphagia with aspiration, requiring six brain surgeries since birth. 

Despite it all, he is a joyful and resilient child who loves Bluey, music, and spending time with his family. Kolby inspires everyone around him with his strength and radiant spirit, reminding others to never give up. 

Brave was born at just 22 weeks and 1 day, weighing 1 lb and given only a 1% chance of survival. After spending 341 days in the NICU at Masonic, he came home with a tracheostomy, VP shunt, and G-tube. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After 2.5 years with a trach, he was successfully cleared to have it removed in July 2025. 

Brave loves vehicles—especially Blaze and the Monster Machines—and is thrilled to attend his very first Vikings game with his family.