Brandon Smalling
Age 11
Tucson Medical Center
Premature Birth
Brandon Smalling, 11, of Tucson, Ariz., has a passion for little bitty things. From his favorite pet snail to bugs of all kinds, Brandon pours over insect encyclopedias for hours just to learn more about the small, creepy crawly things that bring him so much joy.
Brandon’s love for little things might stem from knowing what it’s like to be tiny—almost too tiny to survive. He was born extremely premature, weighed 1.5 pounds and spent the first three months of his life in Tucson Medical Center. Two weeks prior to his original due date, Brandon was sent home, but his visits to the hospital didn’t end.
Additional complications led to eye surgery, and Brandon donned his first pair of glasses at just six months old. At two years, Brandon developed sleep apnea and would stop breathing throughout the night, but surgery helped and improved other speech problems. Continued physical, occupational and speech therapy were instrumental over the next few years to ensure that complications related to his birth and subsequent health problems wouldn’t hinder his future.
Today Brandon is a thriving, energetic 11-year-old with an acute sensitivity to those who need a helping hand or a kind word.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
About Walmart and Sam's Club
Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $460 million for children’s hospitals during the relationship. This is the first year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions Across America program.
Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam's Club
Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.
The Champions Across America program designates a Champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The Champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2009 Champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including brittle bone disease, brain tumors and cerebral palsy, as well as surviving car accidents and plane crashes.
As part of Champions Across America, the Champions travel for a week – first to Florida to meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort. The group will then travel to Washington, D.C., where Champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to The White House.
The Champions Across America program designates a Champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The Champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2009 Champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including brittle bone disease, brain tumors and cerebral palsy, as well as surviving car accidents and plane crashes.
As part of Champions Across America, the Champions travel for a week – first to Florida to meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort. The group will then travel to Washington, D.C., where Champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to The White House.
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