Alyssa Mann was born at 26 weeks, weighing 1 pound and 4 ounces. The doctors called her a micro-preemie, telling her mother that both of their chances of survival were little to none.
Her mother’s pre-eclampsia, a blood pressure condition, caused Alyssa to be delivered through an emergency C-section, saving both of their lives.
Twenty-seven years later, Alyssa navigates life with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluids in the brain, cerebral palsy, developmental delays and a cochlear implant, a surgically implanted hearing device. She’s found hope and support through Dance Marathon, a cause that has become integral to her family’s life for the past 25 years.
“She’s one of the Shands’ miracles that we often hear about, and that’s why we’re here doing this,” Tina Mann said.
Mann, a 60-year-old retired nurse, is Alyssa’s primary caretaker and biggest advocate. She is quick to acknowledge the way that Dance Marathon has helped her and her daughter.
The first weekend of every month, the Florida Vintage Market (FVM) hosts a pop-up shop featuring local vendors. But this month was different. FVM collaborated with Dance Marathon at the University of Florida. Dance Marathon is an organization that raises money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the United States.
Mann and her daughter spent their Saturday afternoon at Bo Diddley Plaza, where they showcased Alyssa’s artistic talent by selling hand-made paintings to raise money for her donor drive page, a cause close to their hearts.
Each vendor was given the option to donate a portion of their proceeds to Dance Marathon. The money raised goes toward covering the costs associated with medical treatment for children at Shands Hospital.
Tina explained that, for her family specifically, the money has contributed to the research, hospital beds, toys, food tickets and machines that have helped keep her daughter alive.
“If it wasn’t for the money raised by Dance Marathon, [Alyssa] and a lot of other kids might not have made it,” Mann said. “She’s a miracle.”
Lilly Smith, an 18-year-old freshman and first-year family relations captain for Dance Marathon acts as a liaison between Alyssa’s family and Dance Marathon at UF.
Smith spends a lot of time with Alyssa, accompanying her to Dance Marathon fundraisers and captains’ meetings and helping her share her story.
“Alyssa is so fun to hang out with all the time,” said Smith. “I didn’t know she was such an artist, so I’m honestly really impressed.”
She added that stories like Alyssa’s are what motivate her to put her time and effort into such an important cause.
“It’s these personal moments that really show me the direct impact that our fundraising efforts have on so many different families who walk into UF Health Shands Children’s Hospitals,” Smith said.
Erika Goldberg, a 24-year-old vintage reseller and up-cycle artist from Orlando, echoed Smith’s sentiment of helping for the greater good.
“For me, [donating] was a no-brainer,” Goldberg explained.
Goldberg is the owner of Goldie’s, a 100% sustainable shop. She travels across Florida, showcasing handmade jewelry, wall decor and other unique items at various markets.
“I always try to donate to charity with my shop,” Goldberg said.
Although she does not have any personal ties to Dance Marathon’s miracle network, Goldberg said, “If it’s asked, my answer is always yes.”
As for shoppers like Mia Stewart, a 20-year-old animal science student from San Diego, California, she found a deeper purpose in her shopping experience. “It’s nice that the community is able to give back,” said Stewart. "It’s a bigger cause than just shopping.”
With every purchase made, market attendees weren’t just investing in their personal collections: They were investing in something greater - the opportunity to help children like Alyssa.