Aris is from Columbia. He is 16.
Diagnosis: Autism and ADD
Aris was a micro-Premie in the NICU. With less than a 50% chance of survival, Aris was born at 24 weeks, weighing 1lb 2 oz. He spent the first 7 months at the Women’s and Children’s NICU and battled multiple health issues. When he finally came home, he was still on O2 and was on full G-tube feeds. For the first several years, he would see multiple therapists and specialists, and each time, they would be so surprised at how well he was doing. Looking at him today, you could not tell that he went through what he did.
More recently, Aris spent almost a month in the children’s hospital in 2025 during two different stays. He had a bowel perforation resulting in an emergency surgery to remove part of his upper bowel. While there, he also developed phenomena and had to have a chest tube temporarily put in.
Today, Aris loves making music, playing drums, playing video games, sports, getting his driver’s license, and trying new foods from other countries.
We give all the credit and our thanks to the Dr’s and Nurses at the NICU for saving his life and never giving up on him.
His parents are Lacie and Austin Ilsley