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Sudbury Boy and Girl Chosen as Children's Miracle Network Champion Childs for Massachusetts

February 15, 2009 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sudbury, MA (February 16, 2008) -- Massachusetts 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 Sudbury will represent the state's children treated at Children's Hospital Boston as the Massachusetts Champion Childs at a "Champions Across America Celebration" in Washington,DC and Florida.  The celebration honors one remarkable childs 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 Mexico. 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--Sofia's gift.  Andy was cured. Sofíia Treviño's name in 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 2002," said 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."

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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 United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.