LANCASTER, PA. (June 9, 2025) – Gavin Mitstifer has been defying the odds since the moment he was born. Diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular condition called congenital myasthenic syndrome, his doctors weren’t sure he would survive his first day.

But Gavin fought back. And he continues to fight every day.

At just three years old, he faced a 120-degree spinal curve that threatened complete paralysis. Given the choice between a complex surgical path that offered a chance at mobility or eventual paralysis, his parents chose hope. The procedure was a success, but regaining strength and function took more than an operation. It took a team.

Before the operation, Gavin was put in a halo and lived in traction for four weeks. This gave his spine the time and space it needed to prepare for the correction that would reduce the curvature. During this time enough pressure was removed from his spinal cord that Gavin was able to start taking weightless steps again.

“I remembered crouching down in the hallway of CHOP and telling him, 'I need you to try for me, buddy, because there are a lot of people here that aren't sure that you can do this,'" Greg, Gavin’s dad and financial professional at UPMC shared.

The 14-hour surgery that followed was successful in preventing paralysis for Gavin, but it was only the beginning of his journey. Recovery required more than surgical success; he needed a therapy team that would support every aspect of his growth, progress and future development. He found that team at the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development.

While the surgery prevented paralysis it was the Schreiber Center’s intensive therapy, blending cutting-edge medical understanding with human compassion that allowed Gavin to regain and develop movement that medical professionals had once deemed impossible. A team of occupational, speech, and physical therapists welcomed him with a plan tailored not only to his specific needs, but also to his personality and goals.

After months of restricted movement in a halo, his sense of touch, balance, and body awareness had shifted dramatically. His therapy team worked patiently and creatively to help him relearn how to move safely without the additional weight of the halo. They designed sessions tailored to his needs and interests, with exercises disguised as play. He was never treated as fragile and was instead encouraged to test his limits safely with the support of his therapy team behind him. Over time, aquatic therapy has become one of Gavin’s most important tools for growth. In the water, he moves more freely and builds strength without the same strain on his recovering muscles.

“The therapists at Schreiber have never accepted a ceiling for Gavin,” Greg says. “They believe in what’s possible and they work to make it real.”

At 9 years old, Gavin continues to defy every medical expectation with the support of his team of therapists at the Schreiber Center. Not only is he hitting therapy milestones, but he’s taking what he’s learned and using it to chase down the life he wants as an avid outdoor enthusiast who goes on camping and hiking trips with his family, rock climbs, and is learning how to adaptive ski. Last year, he even raced in the Schreiber Center's inaugural Duckie Dash with his dad, and he's looking forward to defending their title again this year.

This June, as part of Myasthenic Syndromes Awareness Month, the Schreiber Center is proud to highlight Gavin’s story as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when families, therapists, and communities come together. Proving that with dedicated support, medical challenges can become pathways to extraordinary achievement. Gavin himself best summarizes the center's impact: "Schreiber has helped me be funny. Schreiber has helped me be very strong. And Schreiber has helped me be happy."

To learn more about the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development and the services that support children like Gavin, visit www.schreiberpediatric.org.