The 42nd annual Children’s Miracle Network Hershey (CMN) Telethon raised $321,497 to benefit equipment, programs and research at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital.
One telethon segment highlighted the critical role Life Lion Emergency Medical Services and Critical Care plays in transporting pediatric patients to the children’s hospital. In the video, Sophie Cannon shared her daughter Stella’s experience after she was transferred from another hospital following complications related to spina bifida. During the unexpected and frightening journey, Stella was transported in a donor-funded neonatal isolette. “Even though it seemed a little scary, it also was a comfort because it showed that she was being cared for,” she said. “Meeting the Life Lion team was immediately reassuring. They were not only kind and empathetic, but super professional. They were one bright spot in a moment that was otherwise scary.”
The segment also featured Life Lion Chief Flight Nurse Michael Fadale, who noted that approximately 40% of the team’s annual transports are pediatric patients. He explained that donor support helps provide the specialized equipment needed to safely transport children, ensuring patients receive the appropriate level of care throughout their journey to the children’s hospital.
The funds raised from this year’s Telethon will support family-centered programs, lifesaving equipment and transformative research for pediatric patients like Stella.
