When Howard was 7 years old, he came to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin with severe burns covering 85 percent of his body. Sadly, he was a victim of child abuse. A lot of people didn’t think he would survive – and if he did, he probably never would walk again. Fortunately, the doctors and Howard never lost faith. Never walking again was not an option.
Howard first came into Gary and Meg Nolan’s life as a foster child, then as their adoptive son. At that time, Howard had two goals. His first goal was to go to school. He had never been allowed to go to school before living with Gary and Meg. His second goal was to climb to the top of the slide at his neighborhood playground. He accomplished both within mere months of moving to his new home.
Several months later, Howard was one of a select few special kids chosen to be a professional football player’s “receiver” during the half-time event of a Milwaukee Wave game. Although still in a wheelchair, Howard brought crutches with him. The pro quarterback slowly took Howard’s crutches away and laid them on the ground. Howard was walking!
In the 10 years since the day Howard entered the emergency room at Children’s Hospital, he has endured more than 30 surgeries to help him recover from the abuse. Today, he is a high school senior with varsity letters in baseball, basketball and volleyball.
Every parent dreams of having a child who is an inspiration to others. “There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t thank God for bringing him into our life,” said Gary, Howard’s dad. “Children’s Hospital gave Howard his life back and enabled him to be such an vital part of ours.”