Keira Cromwell
Nothing slows or keeps Keira from making her voice heard. At 13 months of age, Keira’s mom, Heather Cromwell, was told Keira had lumbar plexopathy and would never walk. Keira surprised everyone and took her first steps only four months later. At 20 months, her diagnosis was revised to poliomyelitis or polio.
Even with a symptom of partial paralysis of a lung, she still shares her gift of song. Keira has been singing and humming to herself since she was a toddler. Now 10, Keira has sung at many events, including a tea party benefiting Children’s Miracle Network and she sang God Bless America at a Gateway Grizzlies’ game. In October of 2016, Keira played Chip the Tea Cup in Variety’s Children’s Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
Keira also makes herself heard in other ways. She serves her community of O’Fallon, Ill., by volunteering for local food drives and collections for the military, visiting a local nursing home and making homemade toys for a local dog and cat shelter. Keira is an active Patient Ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis. She takes part in the KMOV Cares telethon every year and has been in a promotional video with the Cardinal’s Michael Wacha. This little girl has accomplished a lot in her 10 years.