Delta Day of Champions!
Eli Brummond, the Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare – CMN Hospitals 2019 Champion, had the experience of a lifetime at the Delta Day of Champions! The Brummonds toured the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport Delta Hub and participated in a fun filled day meeting pilots, touring airplanes and a hanger, and even the opportunity for Eli to ride in a Porsche!
Eli was able to help guide a plane in and meet the pilots behind the wheel! He shared his feelings saying “this big plane is coming towards you…I was excited, but my heart was pounding!” The pilots on board came down to meet Eli and said he did an amazing job.
Eli was not the only Brummond family member who was excited to see the inside of a cockpit…. His younger sisters and Jethro, Eli’s three year old brother, were just as excited! Jethro said he wanted to be a “Driver…. a plane driver” when he grows up!
Dozens of Delta employees showed their generosity and kindness by packing nearly fifty activity bags for patients currently at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. While there, Eli had the opportunity to tell his story and his journey to become a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion.
Delta has been a strong supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare for years. They recently donated over $100,000 to establish the Delta Child Life Fellowship Fund, bringing another Child Life staff member into the hospital. This will help support kiddos like Eli through developmentally appropriate interventions, therapeutic play and distraction, and procedural preparation and education.
The Brummond family had such an amazing day and were so humbled by the generosity and kindness of the Delta staff. It was truly a day filled with exciting adventures, and dreams coming true. We thank everyone who was involved in the 2019 Delta Day of Champions and Delta Partnership. Your support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, like Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, is helping kids like Eli realize what they CAN achieve.
