Ten-year-old Caden Capitani, of Hershey, and his parents, Jessica and Frank Capitani, visited the Pennsylvania Capitol today to meet with Gov. Tom Wolf. The governor congratulated Caden on serving as the 2015-16 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion Ambassador for Pennsylvania and wished him luck on the final leg of his national ambassador tour.
On Tuesday, Feb. 23, Caden will travel to Orlando, Florida, with 52 other “Champion” children who have personally benefited from donations to CMN Hospitals and exemplify how vital community support is for local children’s hospitals. Caden was selected to represent Pennsylvania for bravely facing his medical challenges. Caden has been a patient at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital since before he was born. He had a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, faces 16 ailments, and continues to receive outpatient care at the Children’s Hospital. The Child Life and Family Centered Care teams, both funded by CMN Hospitals, have been integral in providing Caden and his family developmental, educational and therapeutic support as he grows.
Jessica Capitani shares, “He’s doing so well each month and each year that has gone by. We’ve seen his health improve, and we have Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network to thank for that. They are our extended family. They’re part of the village that raises Caden.”
Fifty-three Champions and their guests will gather at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando next Tuesday for the charity’s annual Momentum event. In addition to thanking hospital, corporate and radio and television partners for their ongoing support, Champions will share their stories with national media, participate in a satellite media tour with their hometown stations, serve as grand marshals in a Magic Kingdom Park parade, and be recognized for their brave medical journeys at an emotional medal ceremony. Champions will also participate in events with celebrities including CMN Hospitals co-founders Marie Osmond and John Schneider, Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, teen star and Radio Disney host Alli Simpson, and others.
The CMN Hospitals Champions program began in 1996 and has helped bring awareness to the needs of 10 million children treated at CMN Hospitals each year. This year’s Champions program is presented by CMN Hospitals’ partners Delta Air Lines, Marriott International, Chico’s FAS Inc., and Ace Hardware. They support travel arrangements and special experiences for Champions and their families. The February Ambassador Tour marks the final leg of a tour that began in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., in June 2015. To learn more about Caden, and for a brief video from the first leg of the Ambassador Tour, visit CMNHospitals.org/Champions.