DALLAS - Sh-Shaw McDonnell is pretty much a celebrity along the halls of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.
From doctors to nurses to fellow patients, everyone knows the 3-year-old by name.
Sh-Shaw's mom, Cassie McDonnell, says people have been drawn to her daughter since day one.
"She's a firecracker and has a fighter's spirit," Cassie said.
The fighting spirit runs in the family. After Cassie and her husband adopted Sh-Shaw from China last year, they immediately started going to doctors to get treatments for their daughter's severe infantile scoliosis.
"I remember when I first picked her up the love was instant," McDonnell said.
After looking all over, the McDonnells decided Dallas' Scottish Rite was the best place for their daughter. So the Nebraskans packed their things and drove south.
"You'd do anything for your child," McDonnell said.
The family lived in an RV in the hospital's parking lot for weeks while Sh-Shaw was treated by some of the best pediatric orthopedic specialists in the country, including Amy McIntosh, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Scottish Rite.
"To see the lengths her parents will go to to make sure she gets excellent care is amazing," McIntosh said.
The family cooked meals and had picnics in the camper, memories they say they'll never forget. And now they'll be able to recall those memories from Omaha this Christmas.
"It was really important we have this Christmas at home," McDonnell said.
The team at Scottish Rite helped Sh-Shaw get to a point where she could go home for the holidays. On Thursday, they'll leave Dallas and head to Omaha to celebrate Christmas.
"They work miracles here they really do," McDonnell said.
Sh-Shaw isn't done with her treatment at the Scottish Rite and will return in the spring. Her parents say the RV may make its way back too.
"It's a long haul, but we're in it to win it," McDonnell said.
All Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children patients receive treatment regardless of the family's ability to pay. If you'd like to support the Dallas hospital, you can get more information at scottishritehospital.org/give.
