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Meet Hunter Baughman Cabot, Arkansas
“I was scared to death,” says Candace. “I knew something was terribly wrong, and I knew that if anyone could help my child, it would be someone at Children’s.” At the hospital, Hunter was diagnosed with meningococcemia, a severe bacterical infection. Candace and Irvin, Hunter’s father, were told that Hunter likely would not make it though the night. “Doctors would come to us and say, ‘Well, he’s made it five more minutes, we’ll see how the next five minutes go,’” says Candace. “This went on for the first 24 hours Hunter was in the hospital. We didn’t know if our baby would live or die, and we felt so helpless.” During this time, Hunter’s core body temperature rose to 114 degrees, which usually causes permanent brain damage. Six days after Hunter first entered ACH, doctors informed Candace and Irvin that in order to save his life, his legs and some fingers needed to be amputated. Making one of the toughest decisions a parent will ever have to make, Candace and Irvin signed the appropriate papers, approving the amputations. Hunter was in the hospital for three months, and over that time he had seven major surgeries, including below-knee amputations of both legs, and amputations of all fingers on his left hand and some fingers on his right. After being released from ACH, Hunter continued to visit the hospital for physical and occupational therapy. As he got older, he was eventually fitted for leg prostheses. Thankfully, Hunter has no brain damage from his experience. Hunter is now an adult, attending college at Arkansas State University – Beebe. He is an accomplished hunter, athlete, fisherman, soccer and basketball player, and trombone player. Candace says they owe it all to ACH. “Arkansas Children's Hospital is the only reason Hunter is alive today,” says Candace. “People tell me often how Hunter inspires them. He is amazing and such a true miracle of that hospital.” 
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184
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In 1987, when Hunter was 9 months old, his parents noticed he was acting strange. He began running a high fever, and little dots began appearing all over his body. Candace, Hunter’s mother, knew he needed special care, so she brought him to Arkansas Children's Hospital.