Local Sacred Heart Children's Hospital patient Asher Chmiel has been chosen to represent the state of Florida in this year's national Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Champions Across America campaign.

Presented by Wal-Mart, this program honors remarkable children who have triumphed despite severe medical challenges. Because of their courage and perseverance, these children have been selected as national ambassadors for the 17 million kids treated each year at Children's Miracle Network children's hospitals.

Seven-year-old Asher was diagnosed at birth with a rare brain malformation of the cerebellum and the 4th ventricle known as Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM). Patients with DWM can have abnormally high pressure within their skulls and swelling of the head, which can lead to neurological impairment.

Because of this disease, Asher suffers from a potentially life-threatening seizure disorder that has led to many unexpected visits to Children's Hospital.

In March 2009, Asher will join the 49 other young ambassadors at the Children's Miracle Network Celebration at Walt Disney World, to share the message that his life-and the lives of millions of children just like him -are better because of the tremendous work of children's hospitals. They will also spread the word at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and hopefully again at The White House.

For more information, please visit www.sacred-heart.org or call Sacred Heart Foundation at (850) 416-4660.

About Sacred Heart Children's Hospital
Since 1969, Sacred Heart Children's Hospital has provided quality, compassionate care to children across the Gulf Coast, regardless of their ability to pay. Located in Pensacola, Fla., our state-of-the-art, 119-bed hospital is the only dedicated children's hospital in Northwest Florida.

About Children's Miracle Network
Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To do so, these children's hospitals depend on community support. Children's Miracle Network-the alliance of premier hospitals for children-is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals.  To learn more go to www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

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