Yakima’s Max Is Living Life to the Max Despite the Odds

This is Maximiliano, but you can just call him Max, which is very fitting since he’s living his best life, ‘to the Max’, and at 5 years old, Max is striving and taking on the world each day with confidence and curiosity that will help him grow into a great leader! Say hello to this month’s CMN Miracle Child. Learn about Max’s journey below.

Say Hello To CMN's Miracle Child, Max!

Max was born with category-C Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD). PFFD comes in 4 categories, A – D, with category D being the most severe. To explain Max’s condition more easily, he was born with a short right femur and without a hip socket.

child sitting on a truck bed.

Max’s parents were informed of Max’s condition during their 20 week ultrasound, and plans were made to help give his parents the information, options, help, and guidance to ensure Max could live a happy and full life.

READ MORE: Meet Jonah, CMN Miracle Champion!

He was originally seen at Seattle Children’s Hospital when he was just 6 weeks old, and started consultations with several orthopedic surgeons from all over the West Coast. With the help and guidance of Karla from Children’s Village, Max’s family has been able to navigate their lives through the complicated medical world, and Max has been making headway with the use of his wheel chair and prosthesis and continued Physical Therapy at Children’s Village.

“Children’s Village is very important and very needed for a child like mine that receives physical therapy and for a child like my older son who’s on the spectrum and receives behavior therapy. Children’s Village has helped both my sons for the past 5 years, and I believe Children’s Village is the beginning to helping a child succeed; the early intervention program helps many doors open for our children.”
– Joey & Michelle (Max’s parents).

There are so many stories like Max’s, so many more CMN Champions that you can read about here.

Thank You For Your Kindness

A big thank you to Max’s family for sharing his story and journey, and to the amazing staff at Children’s Miracle Network, MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital, Children’s Village, and everyone who helps these kids like Max live their best lives possible.

You can find out more about the help and services that CMN and Yakima’s Memorial Foundation offer to families throughout the Yakima Valley at MemFound.org.