Claire Aiello and Peggy Dobbs

In this deeply moving conversation, Peggy Dobbs and her daughter Claire Aiello look back on a childhood defined by a mysterious and frightening medical journey. Peggy recalls the early onset of Claire’s symptoms, the worrisome search for answers that led them from specialized walking shoes to natural alternative remedies, and the pivotal moment they discovered Claire was suffering from neurological damage. Ultimately, a critical diagnosis of a back tumor at Shands Teaching Hospital saved Claire’s life. Reflecting on the hurdles they overcame, such as the surreal memory of packing their own blood in a cooler for the operation, mother and daughter express profound gratitude for the successful surgery that allowed Claire to grow up and build a marvelous, fulfilling life.