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. 

Kwinton Plueger, age 5, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just 18 months old. After reaching remission, he sadly relapsed in 2023 and faced a 50% chance of survival. He underwent a bone marrow transplant, along with intensive chemotherapy and radiation, spending more than 120 days between Masonic Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. In June 2025, Kwinton and his family celebrated two years cancer-free — a milestone made possible by his incredible strength, a dedicated medical team, and unwavering family support. 

Today, Kwinton is thriving — full of life, energy, and joy. He loves playing flag football, basketball, and baseball, riding his bike, swimming, camping, and spending time with his brothers and friends. 

Bella Rogne, age 23, was first diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in August 2021 after suddenly falling ill. Her journey has been filled with incredible challenges — from battling a severe fungal infection that led to two brain surgeries and removal of part of her lung, to relearning how to walk and write. Despite these setbacks, Bella never gave up.

She faced multiple relapses, including leukemia spreading to her optic nerve and brain tissue, and later endured CAR T-cell therapy and a stem cell transplant in December 2024. Along the way, she also developed avascular necrosis in multiple joints, causing extreme pain and mobility issues — yet she continues treatment with unwavering strength and hope.

Through it all, Bella has remained an artist, advocate, and inspiration. She loves painting, fashion, and makeup, and uses her platform to help others navigating cancer — hosting blood and donor drives, supporting Masonic Children’s Hospital programs, and leading her group, Bella’s Pink Posse. Today, while still on chemotherapy, Bella is in remission and continues to fight with courage, creativity, and grace.

Joseph was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at 8 months old, in November of 2023. He was hospitalized at Masonic Children’s for the first several cycles of his treatment. He has achieved remission and will complete his chemotherapy treatment in November of this year. 

Joseph loves music, Disney movies, and playing with his big brother, James. 

Due to an undiagnosed “true knot” in her umbilical cord, Eloise was brought into the world requiring a great deal of medical attention. Shortly after birth, she was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition where her brain experienced a lack of oxygen and blood flow during labor. She was also diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, where her lung blood vessels didn’t function properly leading to dangerously low blood oxygen levels. Due to all this, she spent 72 hours on a cooling mat in the NICU to allow her body and brain time to recover. She was also intubated and on ventilation support to help widen her blood vessels. Eloise fought an uphill battle during her first few weeks of life, and proved to be a resilient and determined young lady. After a long 25 days she was discharged from the hospital, and has been thriving ever since. She is a bundle of joy, with a big personality to match! Eloise loves exploring outside, playing with her friends and cousins, and snuggles from her mom and dad.

Our family is forever grateful for the swift an expert care we received at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. Thank you to the amazing doctors and nurses for all that you do each day to save the lives of kids like Eloise! 

Eloise is interested in everyone and everything! She is very curious about the world around her and enjoys stroller rides around the neighborhood, watching squirrels in the backyard and playing with her blocks. She also enjoys watching Vikings games.

Ashtyn’s heart defect went undiagnosed until she was 5½ months old, when a visit to urgent care for an illness revealed critically low oxygen levels. She was rushed by ambulance to multiple hospitals before doctors discovered the underlying heart condition. During this time, Ashtyn suffered two cardiac arrests, including one while being prepared for transfer to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. Upon arrival, testing showed her heart function was dangerously compromised, and doctors were unsure whether she would survive open-heart surgery or require a heart transplant.

After a failed catheterization attempt and a difficult period marked by multiple infections, Ashtyn was finally strong enough to undergo open-heart surgery on October 27, 2014. A heart biopsy later confirmed that her heart tissue was healthy but needed time to heal. Recovery brought additional challenges, including the need for a feeding tube, before she was discharged from the hospital on December 4, 2014. Genetic testing later revealed 1q21.1 duplication and retinitis pigmentosa, and Ashtyn continues to be followed by cardiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, and genetics specialists. 

Today, she is overall healthy, enjoying school, and loves camping, dancing, and spending time learning and growing.