~from the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

For more than 80 years, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has cared for millions of sick and injured children all across our region. Each visit to Children’s Hospital is an opportunity for pediatric experts to shine a light on children and families who need specialized care.

Seven-year-old Eli has been cared for by the experts at Children’s Hospital since birth. With more than 40 different diagnoses and the most severe case of spina bifida recorded in the world, it’s no surprise he and his family think of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital as a second home. Eli’s journey has been marked by 44 surgeries, and more hospital stays than his mom can count, but he’s a ball of happy energy. He’s a survivor due in part to his fighting spirit and exceptional medical care.

This holiday season, we invite you to shine your light for kids like Eli by making a donation to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. All money raised during the Shine Your Light campaign will be used to pay for services not traditionally covered by insurance, like our Child Life department and Pain and Palliative Care.

Child Life specialists use the power of play to help ease anxiety in children during a medical procedure or hospital stay. The Pain and Palliative Care program provides pain management for kids through massage and music therapies.

Dozens of local businesses and landmarks, including the Sunsphere and TVA building, will light up blue December 7 through 10 in honor of Eli and hundreds of other sick and injured children being treated at Children’s Hospital on any given day.

View Eli’s story and make a donation at www.etch.com/light or call Children’s Hospital Development office at (865) 541-8668 for more information.