Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis announces local 2022 champion
Patient Avery Cunha and her family to support CMN’s fundraising campaigns
(SACRAMENTO)
Each year, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada identify a “champion” in their local community to represent kids treated at the local children's hospital. This year, Orangevale resident Avery Cunha has been named the CMN champion for UC Davis Children’s Hospital.
Avery Cunha is the CMN at UC Davis champion for 2022.
As the face of CMN at UC Davis for 2022, Avery and her family will support campaigns that benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the only CMN Hospital in the area.
Avery was 19 months old when she fell into a pool and nearly drowned. She was transported via helicopter to UC Davis Children’s Hospital, where doctors told her parents she might not make it. After months of care in the Pediatric Cardiac and Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) and comprehensive rehabilitation, Avery was discharged.
Now 5 years old, Avery has been able to live a full life with the help of CMN donors, her UC Davis Children’s Hospital care team and her parents, Amber and Ben Cunha. They are excited their daughter is the 2022 champion.
Avery almost drowned in 2018, but now she is a healthy, active girl who loves to run, play and laugh. She starts kindergarten in the fall.
Amber still cries when she thinks about how her life changed that February day.
“We were so scared, but they provided such great support to us, in addition to giving the best medical care to our daughter,” she said of the UC Davis Children’s Hospital care team. “We are so grateful.”
"Without UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we don’t think Avery would still be here,” added Ben Cunha.
The family has been sharing their story in support of CMN at UC Davis for years now. Now, as the 2022 CMN champion family, they can reach even more people in UC Davis Children’s Hospital’s 33-county service area.
“We are thrilled the Cunhas have agreed to continue helping other families,” said Michelle Tafoya, program director of Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis. “Who better to represent what we do here at CMN than Avery? Her story is so compelling. It is a cautionary tale, but also one of hope and miracles. It is sure to resonate with people and help save lives. That’s what we are here to do.”
UC Davis Children's Hospital is the Sacramento region's only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital providing care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care. It includes the Central Valley's only pediatric emergency department and level I pediatric trauma center, which offers the highest level of care for its critically ill patients, as well as a level I children’s surgery center. The 129-bed children's hospital includes the state-of-the-art 49-bed neonatal and 24-bed pediatric intensive care and pediatric cardiac intensive care units. For more information, visit children.ucdavis.edu.
