WASHINGTON — Credit union dignitaries visited the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. to help bring the young patients a bright and colorful day.
Dozens of credit union representatives were on hand for a children's crafting hour helping the young CNMC patients decorate porcelain piggybanks to be auctioned off that evening to help raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network, of which the Washington hospital is part. A check presentation followed during which Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. Chairman Juri Valdov and other members of the board presented CMN with a check for $828,000 raised via the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run and a silent auction. He added that 51 credit unions sent 711 volunteers to work the race, while a total of 83 credit unions sponsored it.
Also taking part in the press event was Joey Lora, the local CMN Champion patient, and his mother. Joey is "truly a miracle child," she said. He was born seemingly normal until he had a seizure at nine months old and nearly died in her arms; he had a severe form of epilepsy. "I had five brain surgeries by the time I was two," Joey interjected.
Doctors had removed most of the left side of his brain and everyone feared that his right side would be completely paralyzed at that time. Then in 2005, they had to go back in and remove the rest of the left side of his brain when he had a stroke and doctors had to remove part of the right side as well. Now eight, Joey is able to walk and talk though his right hand still does not have movement. He's in the first grade full-time now, his mother declared proudly. Joey is on medications to control his seizures that still occur.
In the six years credit unions have been sponsoring the race, they have raised about $2.5 million. –scooke@cutimes.com
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