Frederick has trouble doing everyday tasks, like tying her shoes, due to stiffness on the right side of her body.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes, I feel like I am not as good as others because of the limitations that I have, but I adapt, and I just be myself,” she told KCCI.<\/p>\n
Those limitations don\u2019t stop her; she finds joy in being on stage, from participating in pageants to giving motivational speeches. The teen realized she could turn her passion for pageants into a platform, encouraging teens with disabilities and raising awareness about pediatric strokes.<\/p>\n
“I just want to change the world, make it a better place for everyone, no matter where they come from, not matter what challenges they have,\u201d she told the outlet. \u201cI want everyone to know that even a small thing like a smile makes a difference in the world.”<\/p>\n
![\"NICU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1e68027c8226dc20437fc0fcec5878ab.jpeg\"\/)
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NICU babies in Hatay, Turkiye on February 24, 2023.
Credit: Mahmut Serdar Alakus\/Anadolu Agency via Getty<\/p>\n
Her work has also helped her become one of the nine finalists for the National Stroke Association’s Stroke Hero Award \u2014 the winner of which will be announced on May 1.<\/p>\n
She told the outlet one of her life mottos is “Kids can have strokes too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frederick explained that she wants everyone to be aware of pediatric strokes \u201cso they can support and understand others.\u201d She doesn\u2019t want people to \u201cavoid\u201d those with the condition; instead, she wants them to \u201chelp them feel good about themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2025, Lexi\u2019s mother, Kelli, told International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke <\/a>that in the years after Lexi\u2019s stroke, she had her share of \u201cups and downs,\u201d but \u201cher innate happy demeanor has brought learning and joy for many.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLexi has been a pillar of hope and inspiration, advocating for pediatric stroke, sharing her story, and developing into a powerhouse of change and positivity,\u201d Kelli said. \u201cLexi is someone who is not afraid to try, to share her passion, and to help others with encouragement, creating waves of change across the world. We are so proud of her!”<\/p>\n Pediatric strokes are a \u201crare condition affecting one in every 4,000 newborns and an additional 2,000 older children each year,\u201d according to Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n When a newborn suffers from a stroke, they typically will have seizures, extreme sleepiness or altered mental status and the use of only one side of the body. Causes of pediatric strokes include congenital heart defects, blood vessel problems, blood clotting disorders, and sickle cell disease, per the research university.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n PEOPLE reached out to the Frederick family for comment.<\/p>\n