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When we look at Matteo by the glow of the Christmas tree, we see a little boy who has overcome more than most people face in a lifetime. Since birth, Children’s Hospital Colorado has guided him through every fragile breath. But when he turned one, a true Christmas miracle entered our story: Dr. Robin Deterding.
She became his primary pulmonologist — and she transformed everything. She brought clarity where there was fear, hope where there was exhaustion, and a path forward where we felt lost. Matteo blossomed under her care in a way we had only dreamed of.
This year, Matteo became part of her research study — work that stands to change the future for children with chronic lung disease. For us, this research isn’t just science. It’s the promise of more Christmases with fewer worries, more laughter, and more of the magic that every child deserves.
This holiday season, we’re raising funds to support the research team that has supported Matteo so fiercely. Thank you for believing in Matteo’s story and carrying our family in your hearts.
If you feel called to give, 100% of donations will be apart of a chILD restricted fund that will go directly to Dr. Deterding's research on the matter.
Your donation helps build a world where kids like Matteo can grow, play, breathe, and thrive.
About Matteo's Diagnosis:
Matteo was born at 33 weeks, at 3.5lbs, in severe respiratory distress in the setting of a placenta abruption and severe preeclampsia. Born without a detectable heartbeat and 5-minutes of chest compressions, Matteo was life-flighted to Children's CO and would go on to fight many medical challenges for 109 days. After NICU discharge, Matteo endured several hospital and PICU admissions due to respiratory distress. There was no clear path forward. In the summer of 2024 Dr. Deterding took over as primary care. Matteo was diagnosed with chILD, in addition to his existing diagnoses of chronic lung disease (BPD) and asthma. Matteo was readmitted impatient three times thereafter for treatment and slept on a noninvasive ventilator at home from July 2024 - November 25th 2025. He is our warrior and continues to progress better than anyone imagined.
About Dr. Robin Deterding:
Dr. Deterding serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the University of CO School of Medicine, Founder of the chILD Research Network, Co-Author & Editor of clinical guidelines for chILD, Medical Director of the Breathing Institute at Children's CO (ranked #4 Nationally), Chair of the chILD Research Network and continues to be active in global clinical research helping raise global awareness that children with chronic lung disease are not just "small adults".
About Children's Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD):
Children living with Rare Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) struggle to breath, to play, and to grow- while families search for answers that simply don't exist yet. These conditions are uncommon in that most children go years without clear diagnoses, effective treatments, or even an understanding of what to expect over time.
Incidence: 130-400 kids per 100,000 children every year
