WHO: Samantha Grandal, a 12-year old and her family will be visiting Washington to meet with members of theFlorida delegation on June 19 and 20, to advocate on behalf of Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) and other children’s hospital’s across the country.
Samantha first came to MCH in 2006 with asthma-like symptoms. Diagnostic tests revealed that the little girl had a fist-sized tumor around her trachea and spinal cord. She underwent chemotherapy and spent 22 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Now, a year later, Samantha is a talkative, healthy girl who loves to swim.
WHEN: Samantha and family fly out to Washington on June 19.
Please make appointment with contact for interviews.
WHAT: Samantha is one of over forty patients participating in the National Association of Children’s Hospital’s (N.A.C.H.) third annual Family Advocacy Day that brings together child patients and Members of Congress. These families will spend two days in Washington, touring the nation’s capital and meeting with Congressional leaders to tell their story and advocate for continued support of the children’s health system and Medicaid funding.
MCH Contacts:
Shira Kastan, (305) 498-1265
Cynthia Gutierrez, (305) 668-5514
NACH Contact:
Meghan McCabe (202) 423-6299
Founded in 1950, Miami Children's Hospital is the only licensed specialty hospital for children in South Florida. Ranked by Child magazine among the best children’s hospitals in the nation, Miami Children's Hospital offers medical care and services for children from birth to age 21. The 275-bed medical facility has expertise in all aspects of pediatric medicine.
About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Children Matter Most ™ (2024)
Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. With more than 850 physicians, including over 500 pediatric subspecialists, the hospital and its network of outpatient centers and offices serve close to 70% of children in the Miami market. The only hospital "where your child matters most™,” Nicklaus Children's is home to the region's most advanced Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, and its centers of excellence Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children’s Orthopedics, Sports Health and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children’s Brain Institute and Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute. The Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Transfer Center, Nick4Kids, and LifeFlight are responsible for transporting and saving close to 5,000 lives a year. Our 307-bed hospital, which is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, has many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children's is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.