Piper is the 2026 North Dakota Children's Miracle Network Champion for Sanford Children's. Piper and her family will serve as ambassadors sharing their story throughout 2026. 

Piper is eight years old and has a rare condition called spina bifida - a birth defect that occurs when the spine doesn't close properly during development. She has had multiple surgeries already in her young life due to it, and now uses a wheelchair or walker to get around. 

(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)