Dani has spent the past five years navigating life with Poland Syndrome. Diagnosed at 14, Dani’s journey took her from feeling insecure about her body to embracing newfound confidence, all with the help of the compassionate team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.
Poland Syndrome is a condition characterized by the underdevelopment or absence of chest muscles. For Dani, it began to significantly affect her during puberty. “It really started to affect me when I realized that my left breast was not growing as my other one was,” shares Dani. This physical difference impacted her self-esteem, especially during the summer when finding a bathing suit seemed impossible. “It made me very insecure, and it was hard to find confidence within myself,” she shares. Simple activities like shopping for summer shirts or feeling comfortable at the beach became daunting challenges.
Dani’s connection to Nemours Children’s began with her sister, who had been a patient there since the age of 4. When Dani’s condition started to affect her daily life, her parents turned to the Nemours plastic surgery department for help. This decision marked the beginning of a transformative journey.
At Nemours, Dani found more than just medical care—she found a support system. Dr. Powell and her team provided not only the medical expertise needed to address Poland’s Syndrome, but also the emotional support that helped Dani feel at ease. “Every doctor that I have come in contact with through Nemours has made my experience 10 times easier,” Dani says. “Dr. Powell and her team of nurses helped me feel safe in an environment that I was uncomfortable in at first. With each appointment and post-op, I grew to feel that they were all like my friends and people I could confide in.”
Dani’s treatment included the insertion of a temporary adjustable implant at age 16, followed by a permanent implant at 18. These procedures, along with support of her care team, have made a world of difference in her life. Today, Dani is embracing her newfound confidence. “Now that I have had the surgery and been through the full extent of recovering, I am way more confident looking into the mirror,” she shares. This summer, Dani experienced something she hadn’t in years—a trip to a bathing suit shop without second-guessing herself. For the first time, she felt comfortable on the beach, surrounded by friends and family.
Looking to the future, Dani plans to continue her college softball career and hopes to pursue law school. “I am extremely thankful for the opportunity that I have had throughout these last couple of years,” says Dani. “It is so important to follow what your heart and mind is telling you to do for yourself. I am so glad that I followed mine because I don’t know where my confidence would be if I never went through this experience.”
For those facing a similar journey, Dani has simple yet powerful advice: “Keep going.” While the road wasn’t always easy, she firmly believes that it was worth it. “After a year later, I am where I am right now and I am extremely confident with myself, and I wish I could tell my younger self that it would all work itself out.”
