Eden Hoeffling, 17, walks down the stairs at home carrying her cats Figgy (black) and Snowball, in Sedalia, Mo., on September 24, 2023. Due to her disorder, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Eden is hoping to get Figgy registered as an Emotional Support Animal to take her with her to college. 

Eden takes part in cheerleading practice at Smith-Cotton High School. Eden has been offered a College Cheerleading Scholarship to William Woods University, enabling her to pursue a psychology degree. 

Eden pledges allegiance as she tutors at Skyline Elementary School. Eden tutors in the same classroom, with the same teacher as when she was a student (the room was chosen due to the proximity to the school nurses office as a child.) Despite the risk of getting sick due to her immune disorder, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Eden still tutors. “They’re worth it because they’re adorable and I like working with them,” she said.

Eden is given medication by her mother Alena Hoeffling, before the start of her day at Smith-Cotton High School. Alena had driven to the school to give Eden the medication which she’d forgotten at home. Eden says she’d be lost without her mother, “I’m just a 12 year-old in a 18 year-old’s body, I don’t know what’s going on most of the time.”

Eden and her mother, Alena Hoeffling, paint Eden's senior car parking spot at Smith-Cotton High School. They painted the word 'Prescription' "as a nod to her medical condition,” said her mother, Alena.

Eden sleeps in her mother's car as they drive to the Eagle Elite Cheerleading gym in Columbia, Mo., from Sedalia. Eden’s disorder, Hypogammaglobulinemia, causes fatigue issues. 

Eden, center, flips through the air during practice with her team at Eagle Elite Cheerleading gym. Eden was scouted and offered a College Cheerleading Scholarship to William Woods University. 

Eden does her makeup at home. Eden, her boyfriend Tyler Swearingin, 18, and her friends Alex and Avery travelled to Kansas City for her first big gig to watch the hip hop duo $uicideboy$. 

Eden, center, her friend Alex Hansen, left, 17, and her boyfriend Tyler, right, arrive at the T-Mobile Center for a concert in Kansas City, Mo. Eden, her boyfriend Tyler and her friends Alex and Avery travelled to Kansas City for her first big gig to watch the hip hop duo $uicideboy$. 

Eden, center,  her friend Alex Hansen, center left, and her boyfriend Tyler, center right, watch the hip hop duo $uicideboy$ at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.. The group travelled to Kansas City from Sedalia with Eden for her to watch her first big gig away from home. 

Eden is kissed by her mother Alena outside of Smith-Cotton High School before Eden is driven by her father to cheerleading practice in Columbia. When asked how the family cope with the challenges associated with supporting Eden, her mother Alena said “Once we had Eden she turned out to be the glue who held it all together. She’s the center of our life now.”