Race for Our Kids 2019-Meet Elizabeth Gardner
When Elizabeth Gardner's mom, Lisa, was pregnant with her, doctors said Elizabeth either wouldn't survive the pregnancy or wouldn't make it through the delivery if it reached that point. 
She proved the doctors wrong, being born in 2004, but without a radius bone in each forearm, a rare condition known as thrombocytopenia with absent radius (TAR) syndrome.
Unhappy with the lack of support from their doctors in Philadelphia, Lisa, acting on a recommendation from a TAR syndrome support group, brought Elizabeth to the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital. Eleven years, 40 surgeries, and more than 150 blood and platelet transfusions later, 14-year-old Elizabeth is full of confidence and hope. The bright-eyed, funny teen just started her freshman year at Manchester Valley High School in Carroll County, Maryland. Elizabeth is poised beyond her years, speaking, dressing and carrying herself with intent. Her engaging and optimistic demeanor belies the difficult journey she's been on.
Elizabeth and her family credit the doctors, nurses, and physical and occupational therapists at RIAO for her quality of life. They refer to Sinai as their "second home."
"This is the place we can come to when we need anything," Lisa says. "We've been able to get her to age 14 because of this hospital. It's always a comfortable feeling knowing that this is the right decision and the right place."
Elizabeth says the doctors and staff at Sinai explain everything to her and her parents and never shut her out of a conversation regarding her health. She is especially thankful to Dr. Shawn Standard, Dr. James Pepple and her physical therapist, Lauren Deaver.
Since coming to RIAO as a toddler, Elizabeth has undergone reconstructive surgeries on her knee, toe, thigh and arm; arm and leg lengthening procedures; and more. Despite the surgeries and missing six months of class last school year, Elizabeth maintained her grades, friendships and positive attitude.
Elizabeth loves to read, write in her journal, bake, and binge-watch TV series like Boy Meets World and Beverly Hills 90210. She also likes to hang out with her 13-year-old sister, Sara, and play with her three pets: Oreo (a border collie-lab mix), Tiger (a tabby cat) and Teddy (her new guinea pig). When she grows up, she wants to become a pediatric nurse at Sinai Hospital and publish an autobiography.
Support Elizabeth and other brave young patients at the 15th annual Race for Our Kids on Sunday, Oct. 6.