Watching Kloé carve down a ski slope with confidence, it’s easy to forget how far she’s come to get here. At 13, she still has the same determination that’s been with her from the start.

Born with oesophageal atresia and tracheomalacia — two congenital malformations — Kloé spent much of her early childhood within the walls of CHU Sainte Justine. She went through 14 surgeries, along with repeated oesophageal dilations, hospital stays, pneumonia episodes, and respiratory infections triggered by even the tiniest virus. The first years of her life were marked by a series of challenges.

For many children, the hospital is a frightening place. For Kloé, it became somewhere she felt safe. It was practically a home away from home for her.

Today, the surgeries are safely stowed away in the past. Though she has regular follow-ups and takes medication to prevent gastric reflux, Kloé lives an active, fulfilled and busy life.

She really comes into her own on the ski slopes; the mountain makes her feel stronger and braver. Her first giant slalom camp is a thrilling memory, and she is eager to keep progressing in competition. She admires and is inspired by the skier Valérie Grenier, whom she has met.

Determination and perseverance are the cornerstones of everything Kloé tackles in life. Well-organized, ambitious and motivated, she would like to become a doctor – perhaps encouraged by those who took charge of her care over the years. She also enjoys playing volleyball, being with her friends, and having family ski days.

Her parents admire her maturity. What impresses them most is not just what she’s come through, but how she handled it: with a smile, unshakeable confidence and an innate ability to see the bright side. You could say that Kloé is a girl who keeps her sights on the summits.