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is sending two new representatives to the nation’s Capitol this March, but the
young ambassadors aren’t politicians. 9 year-old Andy Treviño and 4 year-old
Sofía Treviño of
the state’s children treated at Children’s Hospital Boston as the Massachusetts
Champion Childs at a “Champions Across America Celebration” in
from every state who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges.
The Trevino’s will join other child ambassadors from every
state as part of the Children’s Miracle Network program, Champions Across
America presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club. The program brings attention to
the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable
children like Andy and Sofía.
Andy was born with Primary Immune Deficiency, an extremely
rare genetic mutation that caused his immune system to fail. Since Andy’s birth
they’d consulted 70 doctors and spent 375 days in the hospital in their native
They’d run out of options and in September 2000, his parents Andres and Paulina
Treviño packed two suitcases, a stroller, and a desperately sick 16-month-old,
Andy, and flew to Boston. They directed the cab driver to take them straight to
Children’s Hospital Boston.
Children’s Hospital Boston Immunology, gastroenterology and
other specialists struggled to bring Andy’s constant, life-threatening
infections under control. Within months, Jordan Orange, MD, PhD, an immuno-genetics
specialist discovered Andy’s problem: a rare NEMO mutation, affecting only
boys, was suppressing the immune-response signal. Andy’s body was defenseless
against infection.
Andy’s only hope for a cure was a stem cell transplant. Success
depended on a genetically matched donor, and the best matched donor for Andy
would be a sibling– his sister, Sofíia.
Andy endured immune-destroying chemotherapy before receiving
the transplant. Within weeks, his immune system regenerated with healthy,
normal cells–
anagram spells out “one fit savior”, exactly what she represented to her
brother. Today, Andy is a healthy third-grader with many friends.
The Treviño’s and fellow champions will travel for one week –
first to Florida for the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt
Disney World Resort, and then to Washington D.C. Andy will visit Capitol Hill
to share his story of medical victory, representing the 17 million children
treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals each year throughout the United
States.
Since 1987, Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart and Sam’s
Club associates, customers and members have worked together to help children by
raising and contributing more than $460 million for children’s hospitals
nationwide.
“We’re grateful to Walmart and Sam’s Club associates and
customers for contributing more than $5 million to Children’s Hospital Boston
since
Carola Cadley, Children’s Hospital Trust Associate Vice President of corporate
development and marketing.
“Over the past two decades, Children’s Miracle Network, its
hospitals and especially the children treated have found a very special place
in the hearts of Walmart and Sam’s Club associates,” said Margaret McKenna,
president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “Our support for Champions Across America
builds on the emotional connection our associates have with the children cared
for by these hospitals.”
– MORE –
NOTE: PHOTOS AND B-ROLL
VIDEO of Andy’s trip to DC and Disney will be available. Contact Amy Sweeney for details.
Children’s Hospital Boston, an internationally renowned
center for medical research and treatment founded in 1869, is home to one of
the world’s largest research enterprises, generating discoveries that benefit
patients worldwide. Recognized for its many “research firsts,” Children’s is
one of the only pediatric hospitals nationwide that focuses on pairing world-class
research with clinical resources to provide top therapies to treat and cure
children. These scientific advances don’t help only children; they also have
far-reaching implications for treating adults. For more information, visit www.childrenshospital.org.
About Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization
dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for
children’s hospitals. Each year, the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals
provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative
education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.
To learn more go to www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation
are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and
associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and
partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on creating
opportunities in education, workforce development, environmental
sustainability, and health and wellness. In 2007, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the
Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the
States
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