Once a Riley kid, always a Riley kid.

Ava Bacon is a 19-year-old IU freshman from Fishers, Indiana. Ava says she grew up living a normal life; She played sports, spent time with her friends, and enjoyed going to school. But in 2013, everything changed.

Growing up an avid volleyball player, Ava says she was prone to injury. When she was 13 years old, she suffered a concussion while playing in a match. Her mother immediately took her to the doctor, as any parent would.

It was there, at Riley Hospital for Children, that a specialist told Ava she had a rare birth defect called Arnold Chiari Malformation, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

The diagnosis explained the severe migraines Ava had experienced growing up, and despite being shocking, her family says she handled it with grace and bravery. Ava and her family had a decision to make: brain surgery or pain medication for the rest of her life. Surgery it was.

Ava turned her fear into motivation and dedication.

Now, 5 years post-surgery, she can finally participate in Indiana University Dance Marathon to honor and support the current Riley kids. “I’ve been looking forward to IUDM for as long as I can remember,” Bacon said. “It’s something I have been and always will be passionate about.”

Optimistic is a word that many people associate with Ava. So much so, she decided to get a tattoo on the back of her neck under her surgery scar. It reads, “Happy To Be Here.” According to her older sister, Aly, who is also a dancer for IUDM, “Ava is positive, loving, and always smiling.” The permanent reminder couldn’t be more fitting.

Despite being an optimistic person, Ava is also realistic and reminds herself how lucky she truly is. 

 

Everyone experiences tough days—even Ava. When she’s feeling blue, the first person she calls is her mom. “My mom is literally my best friend, Ava said. She is so easy to talk to and she can instantly turn my day around.” 

We should all strive to have an outlook on life the way Ava does. Count your blessings. Enjoy the little things. Give back to those who need it.

From being a patient herself to dancing for the very same cause that saved her life, Ava will always hold a special place in her heart for Riley Hospital for Children. 

It’s all for the kids.