42nd Children’s Miracle Network Telethon to air on WGAL
The 42nd annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon benefiting Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital will air Monday, June 1, through Thursday, June 4 on WGAL8. Telethon segments throughout the week will highlight the stories of children who have received life-saving care at the children’s hospital, followed by a finale special on Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m. Gifts will support equipment, programs and research.
Telethon viewers will be encouraged to make a gift online at WGAL.com or at CMNHershey.org. Donors who would like to give by phone may contact the CMN office at 717-531-6606 or mail their gift to CMN, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033.
Eight-year-old Izzy Rivera of Wernersville is one of several local children who will be featured during the broadcast. At six months old, Izzy was airlifted to the children’s hospital in critical condition. Soon after arriving, her heart stopped, and a member of her care team performed CPR to save her life. She was then placed on a donor-funded heart-lung machine and underwent life-saving heart surgery within 24 hours.
Tom Buck, right, a flight paramedic with Life Lion services at Penn State Health, spends time with Izzy Rivera, during her visit to the Life Lion bay on the campus of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Izzy’s mom, Kelly, credits Buck for saving her daughter’s life.
A few years later, Izzy faced another medical crisis and needed emergency brain surgery. Throughout her journey, donor support helped provide the lifesaving care, equipment and supportive programs that gave her a second chance.
Music therapy helped ease her pain during treatments, while Child Life services gave her opportunities to play, cope and simply be a kid during hospital stays. Today, Izzy is thriving in school and loves collecting stuffed animals. Her parents remind her often: you are brave, you are strong.
Izzy designed this year’s 42nd-anniversary telethon t-shirt, featuring the Life Lion helicopter that helped save her life. The shirt will be given to donors who make a recurring monthly pledge of $35 or more.
This year’s telethon is sponsored by Johnson Controls; The Hershey Company; Hershey Entertainment & Resorts; Woodstream Corporation; Donegal Insurance Group; Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union; Highmark Bright Blue Futures; McClure Company; Shollenberger, Januzzi & Wolfe, LLP; Universal Media; JPL; and Member’s 1st Federal Credit Union.
Learn more and give at CMNHershey.org.
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