ANDERSON the CHAMPIONMeet A

n El Pasoan is being honored as a 2023 Children’s Miracle Network National Champion and raising awareness to local efforts that support pediatric healthcare. Each year, the Children’s Miracle Network, an exclusive partner with the El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation, selects a local champion. A local champion is selected by being an El Paso Children’s Hospital patient. Every year, a National Champion is selected among the local Champions from across the country. These ambassadors are so important in telling the story of excellent local pediatric health care.

This year, one of our El Paso Champions was selected as a 2023 Children’s Miracle Network National Champion. Anderson, El Paso Children’s Miracle Network Champion, along with his family, neurosurgeon, and friends at the El Paso Children’s Hospital are set to receive Anderson’s national award at a ceremony in Orlando, Florida on April 4th and share his special story.

“They help us advocate for the hospital,” says Alexa Velazquez, Program Director of the Children’s Miracle Network in El Paso, “sharing the testimony of their experience of excellent pediatric healthcare. We are proud of the Champion, who exemplifies our mission. We have an incredible children’s hospital here, at home.”

Anderson was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari malformation, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal that occurs when part of the skull is misshapen, causing pressure on the brain that forces it downward to the spine. Within five days of diagnosis, Anderson was admitted for surgery at El Paso Children’s Hospital with pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. David F. Jimenez.

WIthin five days of diagnosis, Anderson was admitted for surgery at El Paso Children’s Hospital with pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. David F. Jimenez.

The procedure was a total success.

Two weeks after the procedure, for example, Anderson was able to ride a scooter for the first time and cross a balance beam at the park. He grew stronger and put on muscle, too, as he was able to eat without regurgitating -- and asked for second helpings!

Children’s Miracle Network hospitals serve the following:

• 16,200 children with trauma

• 935 children with diabetes

• 2,128 children with cancer

• 2,329 children who need surgery

• 925 babies in NICU

These fundraising campaigns align with the mission to treat local patients at the local level. “We don’t want to have to send kids like Anderson, or any other patient, outside of El Paso to get treatment,” says Velazquez. “We want to keep them here at home at El Paso Children’s Hospital.”

“That dollar goes a long way,” Velazquez explains. “That dollar helps us bring in the equipment that we need for the hospital.”

Dr. Jimenez used neurology-specific equipment to perform the procedure that was funded by donations to the Children’s Miracle Network. The tools are designed to be minimally invasive for pediatric patients and have been shown to produce better patient outcomes and reduce the length of hospital stays.

The Children’s Miracle Network works to raise funds and awareness to support pediatric patients like Anderson. Each day,

The fundraising campaigns align with the mission to treat local patients at the local level.

“We don’t want to have to send kids like Anderson, or any other patient, outside of El Paso to get treatment,” says Velazquez. “We want to keep them here at home. We want our community to be proud of El Paso Children’s Hospital. We want them to be proud they were able to give that dollar back to the community.”