Sparrow Children's Center Patient Recognized By Miracle Network

Twelve-year-old, Charlotte, Mich., native Landon Whitaker’s story is heroic enough to tell President Barack Obama, and shines a light on one of the state’s premier children’s hospitals.

Last fall, Whitaker survived an accidental gunshot wound to his face near his home. He was treated at Sparrow Children’s Center after the bullet entered his cheek and lodged in the back of his head. He persevered through a drug-induced coma and four brain surgeries with a few cognitive setbacks, says Joy Wiseman, director of development at the Sparrow Children’s Center.

Landon represents Michigan as the state Champion Child, an annual honor bestowed by the Children’s Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization that raises funds for 170 affiliated children’s hospitals in the U.S. and Canada.

The Sparrow Children’s Center is one of four Miracle Network affiliates in Michigan.

More than 68,000 mid-Michigan children visit the Sparrow Children’s Center each year. It has been affiliated with the Children’s Miracle Network for 22 years, raising more than $19 million over that time.

Wiseman says it is a great honor for a Sparrow child to be recognized by the Children’s Miracle Network, and can attract additional funding to the Childen's Center for research, facility and equipment upgrades.

Last weekend was the annual Sparrow Giveathon, which is also a major annual fundraiser and contributes to establishing a first-class children’s hospital in the Capital region.

“This is a big, great story,” Wiseman says. “All of the money raised stays local to help our children and our neighbors’ children.”

Part of being recognized as a Champion Child includes trips to meet the President and to Disney World.

Source: Joy Wiseman, Sparrow Children's Center

Writer: Andy Balaskovitz