Meet the 2017 Co-Captains...
Jordan Nerksi
Jordan is an 11 year old boy that fancies himself the neighborhood handyman. He’s often found helping his granddad out in the garage or any neighbor that needs help around the house or outside. He’s a very busy boy that loves to be active and helping others. He’s played soccer, Lacrosse, flag football with neighbors, baseball and would love to start Football in the fall. Jordan has been in Boy Scouts for the last few years and worked really hard to get his Arrow of Light patch.
He is a very driven little man and is one of those kids that has an old soul that is forever giving and loving. He would stay to help out rather than play with other kids and was seen more times last year at the Shrine Center than even some adults. Jordan also has a huge heart for anyone be it a baby or elderly person, he will make time for you. Some of his goals is to be become babysitter certified so he can watch kids at the Shrine Center for events, and to eventually become a Shriner. He’s waiting for the day he can join DeMolay. If he could find a way to volunteer at the Shrine Hospital every day, he would be there with a smile and a happy heart. He has made some good friends with past co-Captains and he’s excited to be a part of this process.
He is a very driven little man and is one of those kids that has an old soul that is forever giving and loving. He would stay to help out rather than play with other kids and was seen more times last year at the Shrine Center than even some adults. Jordan also has a huge heart for anyone be it a baby or elderly person, he will make time for you. Some of his goals is to be become babysitter certified so he can watch kids at the Shrine Center for events, and to eventually become a Shriner. He’s waiting for the day he can join DeMolay. If he could find a way to volunteer at the Shrine Hospital every day, he would be there with a smile and a happy heart. He has made some good friends with past co-Captains and he’s excited to be a part of this process.
Payton Gregory
Payton is an 11 year old, that is a 6th grader at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond. Payton has 2 older brothers, Trey is 16 and Landon is 14, and of course Mom and Dad. Payton is actively involved with Crossfit at Triumph Fitness. He also loves to play soccer and basketball and loves to swim! Payton wants to play football for the Oregon Ducks one day. He loves the Denver Broncos (Peyton Manning) and Camo!
It means a lot to Payton to be the East Co-Captain of the East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game, Shriners has helped him be independent and has given him the ability to play sports and be active.
Payton was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis, this means some of his joints don't move as much as normal. The muscle around these joints are very minimal. He was born 6 weeks early at Legacy Emmanuel, weighing only 5 lbs 2 oz and 17 inches long. He had to stay in the hospital for a week, while the doctors ran a lot of tests. There is no cause for Arthrogryposis, and typically it never gets worse. Payton started casting at just 6 weeks old for his clubbed feet. When Payton was about a year old, his mom and dad learned about Shriners Hospital - Portland, and made his first appointment, where they met Dr. Sussman! When Payton was about 1 1/2 he had his first surgery at Shriners where they put pins in both of his feet to correct the club feet. Payton had the cast on for 4-6 weeks. From that point on, he has gone to Shriners every 6 months for checkup/clinic appointments where he meets with Dr. Sussman and his Care Coordinator to decide the next step in his treatment (x-rays, pictures, clinic, getting new AFOS, picking out new crutches, and of course, checking out the 7th floor playground). Since Payton's first appointment he has had 4 major surgeries there. Payton's second surgery was to remove one of the pins that didn't want to come out naturally. He then had a surgery that was to redo the pins, his club feet were very stubborn. At that time he was in casts for 12 weeks. His last surgery was to place pins in his knees and another pin put in one of his feet that still didn't want to correct. That was the hardest surgery of them all, he was in so much pain and could no longer be the active boy that he was used to being. Every surgery, every clinic appointment has been very successful and the doctor is always very open to every option about Payton's treatment. Payton more than likely will always need assistance to walk, either crutches or wheelchair and AFO's, But he could very likely surprise everyone someday and walk without assistance. Payton’s experience at Shriners Children's Hospital - Portland has exceeded the expectations and his family couldn't ask for a better place to treat his condition.
Thank you Shriners Hospital for Children - Portland!
It means a lot to Payton to be the East Co-Captain of the East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game, Shriners has helped him be independent and has given him the ability to play sports and be active.
Payton was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis, this means some of his joints don't move as much as normal. The muscle around these joints are very minimal. He was born 6 weeks early at Legacy Emmanuel, weighing only 5 lbs 2 oz and 17 inches long. He had to stay in the hospital for a week, while the doctors ran a lot of tests. There is no cause for Arthrogryposis, and typically it never gets worse. Payton started casting at just 6 weeks old for his clubbed feet. When Payton was about a year old, his mom and dad learned about Shriners Hospital - Portland, and made his first appointment, where they met Dr. Sussman! When Payton was about 1 1/2 he had his first surgery at Shriners where they put pins in both of his feet to correct the club feet. Payton had the cast on for 4-6 weeks. From that point on, he has gone to Shriners every 6 months for checkup/clinic appointments where he meets with Dr. Sussman and his Care Coordinator to decide the next step in his treatment (x-rays, pictures, clinic, getting new AFOS, picking out new crutches, and of course, checking out the 7th floor playground). Since Payton's first appointment he has had 4 major surgeries there. Payton's second surgery was to remove one of the pins that didn't want to come out naturally. He then had a surgery that was to redo the pins, his club feet were very stubborn. At that time he was in casts for 12 weeks. His last surgery was to place pins in his knees and another pin put in one of his feet that still didn't want to correct. That was the hardest surgery of them all, he was in so much pain and could no longer be the active boy that he was used to being. Every surgery, every clinic appointment has been very successful and the doctor is always very open to every option about Payton's treatment. Payton more than likely will always need assistance to walk, either crutches or wheelchair and AFO's, But he could very likely surprise everyone someday and walk without assistance. Payton’s experience at Shriners Children's Hospital - Portland has exceeded the expectations and his family couldn't ask for a better place to treat his condition.
Thank you Shriners Hospital for Children - Portland!
