Before Piper Hegland of Oberon, North Dakota even entered the world, life handed her unimaginable challenges.
At 37 weeks, a routine ultrasound revealed that Piper had myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida. She was born with related complications, including bilateral club feet, where both feet are pointed in and down; hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain; and Chiari II malformation, a structural defect in which the lower part of the brain extends into the spinal canal.
Her first year was a whirlwind of surgeries — including a spinal closure at just one day old and brain surgery at seven days old. And that was only the beginning.
Today, as the 2026 North Dakota Children’s Miracle Network Champion for Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo, Piper and her family are sharing their incredible story to raise awareness and inspire support for thousands of other local kids who will count on Sanford Children’s this year.
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When I think of Sanford Children’s, I think of the words ‘family’ and ‘community.’ It’s truly like a family taking care of us for years past and years to come.
Piper’s Mom
Facing the Unexpected
“When we got the diagnosis, that was probably the worst day of my life,” said Amanda, Piper’s mom. “When you hear that your child is going to be born with a birth defect, there’s a lot of blaming yourself.”
After birth, Piper spent 12 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before heading home. In the months that followed, she underwent several procedures to repair her club feet, including wearing special braces for 23 hours a day until age four.
Piper’s fight didn’t stop there. Over the years, she has faced a tethered spinal cord, a shunt infection that kept her in the hospital for 22 days and bacterial meningitis that temporarily stole her hearing.
Through countless procedures and treatments, one thing has remained constant: the unwavering support of her care team at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo.
“Sanford has done a phenomenal job of making us feel prepared, both for Piper’s birth and her ongoing care,” said Amanda.
The Power of Generosity
Throughout her time at Sanford Children’s, Piper and her family have benefited from services made possible by generous donors.
From music therapy and child life services to Fox the facility dog and the hospital teacher who kept Piper on track with her schoolwork during extended stays, these programs have made a world of difference for the Hegland family.
“Honestly, our hospital stay would have been so much different without all of these services,” said Amanda. “We’re so grateful.”
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Having Sanford Children’s close to home is a blessing. We don’t have to worry when we’re here — we know Sanford is taking the best possible care of Piper.
Piper’s Dad
Fierce, Bright and Unstoppable
Today, Piper is 8 years old and unstoppable. Her spunky humor and quick wit light up every room.
Amanda and Jake have learned to balance letting Piper be a kid and managing her medical needs by simply letting Piper be Piper.
“She’s very independent,” said Amanda. “We simply go by the motto, ‘There’s nothing she can’t do.’ She might do it differently, but she’s determined to figure out a way.”
Piper continually meets every challenge head-on, proving time and again that she is fierce, bright and full of hope.
Give for Children. Give for Good.
If you’re inspired by this story, give for local kids like Piper today. Thousands of local kids turn to Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo each year for extra or unexpected care.
With your support, we can give every child the healthy future they deserve. 100% of every dollar supports priorities like:
- Child life services, the school program, our facility dog program and other services never billed to patients’ families
- Financial assistance to help families with the costs of meals, lodging and travel while their child is in the hospital
- Lifesaving pediatric equipment like ventilators, ultrasound machines and Giraffe OmniBeds that mimic a mother’s womb for NICU infants
- And so much more!
Together, we can continue fueling hope and healing for kids at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Fargo — the state’s only member hospital of Children’s Miracle Network.