Heather and Joel Leicy entered their daughter in a national toddler competition. Even before the Leicys learned the final results of the contest, they had already won.

Adalynn is their prize from God.

"We are very, very thankful and lucky to have her," said Heather, a resident of Bird-in-Hand. "We are very proud to call her our daughter."

Curious, respectful and kind, Adalynn is a 28-month-old special little girl. For someone so young, she has faced her share of medical issues, and the way she has handled the adversity has been an inspiration for everyone she's come in contact with.

"In one word, I'd say she's bubbly," said Heather. "She has no stranger danger. Everyone is her friend. She also has the best memory. It's so eye-opening to see her take in the world. She remembers everything, even if we only say it one time. She's super friendly, she loves and she's eager to learn."

In July, the Leicys entered Adalynn in the national Colossal Impact's Toddler of the Year competition, sort of a popularity contest judged on the number of online votes each entrant's profile received. One $25,000 prize was awarded from hundreds of entrants across the country.

The Leicys' plans for the prize money, should they win, include paying off Adalynn's $9,000 in medical bills and home renovations. The final results of the contest have yet to be announced.

"She didn't fully understand what (the competition) was," said Heather. "Every single day, she thanked people for their votes or told them to vote. She knew she needed to be in the No. 1 spot, but she wasn't exactly sure why. We shared something about her every single day."

"With the competition, we wanted to focus on the fact that she was loved and supported," added Heather. "Those people were voting for her because they loved her. That's what we wanted her to know beyond the prize."

Adalynn has been dealing with medical issues since the day she was born in 2023. First it was jaundice, and then it was a heart murmur.

Then, through an MRI, a blood test and eye tests, it was discovered that Adalynn's right eye wasn't being used.

"The left eye was doing all the work," said Heather. "She had to wear a patch for two hours a day and glasses for the rest of her life to strengthen that right eye. The hope is she won't have to wear the patch at some point."

"We're now on high monitoring," Heather added. "(Medical officials) don't see anything that's slowing her down right now, but something could in the future. Her eye is really weak on the right side. Neurology is saying that everything looks OK."

Everyone can take a cue from how little Adalynn has handled adversity.

"How she's handled these problems have been the most proud moments for us as parents," said Heather. "It's been mind-boggling how much she's trusted us. Things were new to her, but she was willing to give it a shot, make the best of it and find joy in other places. It's been a new experience for all of us."

"My husband and I don't wear glasses, but we took pictures of friends with glasses and showed them to Adalynn," continued Heather. "Her response was kind of like, 'Other people wear glasses. It's something I can get used to.' She's kind of a role model for us, and she doesn't even know it."

Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child's future. Near the top of everyone's list is good health.

"I just want her to know that she's loved, and I want her to find a group of people who she can fully trust and where she can be herself," said Heather. "As a mom, it's been fun watching her find her spot. It's something that sometimes doesn't happen. That's the biggest thing I want for her."

"Something else I want her to learn is that you can just try things," Heather continued. "Yes, we may not win. We just decided, 'Let's go for it.'"

Adalynn will always be the Leicys' Toddler of the Year.