Children's Miracle Network
broadcast to air June 3, 4
Not many 4-year-olds have the chance to visit the White House or appear on national television.
Kristin
Patrick will do both—and for a very special reason. She and
her family, from St. George, are sharing the message of the Children's
Miracle Network (CMN), a year-round effort to help hospitalized children.
Kristin, a Child-ren's Hospital patient, was joined at the White House on June 1 by 50 other “Champions” from across the United States (one from each state and the District of Columbia). Krist-in, who overcame an unknown virus that left her near death, was selected by the CMN Champions Across America program to represent South Carolina.
After the White House visit, the group traveled to Orlando for the national Children's Miracle Network Weekend of Champions to be broadcast from Walt Disney World on June 3 and 4. The broadcast can be seen locally on WCSC-TV 5.
Kristin and the other Champion children represent 14 million children of all ages, economic levels and ethnic backgrounds who are treated at CMN-participating hospitals each year.
Kristin's illness started as a common cold. Two days later, she was fighting for her life. At the age of 15-months, Kristin had trouble breathing and was rushed to MUSC Children's Hospital. An unknown virus had entered her body and caused both of her lungs to rupture. She was placed on a ventilator, but her prognosis was grim.
A week later, her oxygen levels had decreased even further, and time was running out.
The only option left was to put her on a heart/lung bypass machine, a procedure known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which pumps blood out of the body, supplies it with oxygen and pumps it back in; giving the heart and lungs a chance to rest. As the days passed, hopes faded—Kristin had been on ECMO longer than any other patient. But she refused to give up the fight and finally turned the corner. After 10 days on ECMO, she was back on a ventilator, and five days later she was breathing on her own.
Today this blue-eyed girl is healthy and happy, flashing her winning
smile and stealing the heart of everyone who meets her.
Make a pledge to CMN on June 3, 4
Let your fingers do the walking and call 792-8000 to make a pledge to the Children's Miracle Network during its annual broadcast June 3 and 4 to raise funds to help hospitalized children.Beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, the local CMN broadcast will air on WCSC-TV 5. Broadcast from the MUSC Harper Student Center at 45 Courtenay Drive, the event will continue until 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Visitors are welcome.
All funds generated through the local broadcast stay with MUSC Children's Hospital. During the past 15 years, the broadcast has raised more than $5.5 million to help seriously ill children at MUSC Children's Hospital. The Children's Miracle Network is affiliated with 170 children's hospitals throughout North America.
During the broadcast, viewers will meet some of MUSC's special champions—children who have beat the odds to become winners against illnesses such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, heart and lung diseases, birth defects and severe trauma from accidents.
The broadcast will include on-air celebrities Warren Peper and Debi
Chard, and the local stories of courageous young patients, their families
and the physicians who treat them.
Also included will be national segments broadcast live from Walt
Disney World and featuring top stars in sports, entertainment and national
hosts Steve Young, Robin Roberts, Mary Lou Retton and Dan Patrick. Scheduled
to perform during the national broadcast are: Britney Spears, N'Sync, John
Schneider, Marie Osmond, Amy Grant and LeeAnn Rimes.