Penn State Hershey patient to serve as 2015-16 CMN Hospitals Champion

Nine-year-old Caden Capitani of Hershey, a patient at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, has been named the 2015-16 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for Pennsylvania. The announcement was made at a news conference on March 25, 2015 in Hershey. Caden arrived at the event in a Hershey's Kissmobile.

Over the next 12 months, the Capitani family and other Champion families will serve as national spokespeople for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The Champions will travel to Washington, D.C. in June and to Orlando, Florida in February 2016.

“We are looking forward to representing this community that's meant so much to us. This hospital is really part of our family,” says Jessica Capitani, Caden's mother.

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.

>> View a photo gallery of Caden Capitani and his family

“We're at the hospital at least once a week, and that's when he's healthy. He has been treated from head to broken toe,” Jessica says.

The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Champions program presented by Delta Air Lines, Marriott International and Chico's FAS identifies a child from each state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico with a remarkable medical story and passion for advocating on behalf of children's hospitals. Donations to Children's Miracle Network fund life-saving equipment, pediatric programs and research.

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