Nine-year-old Little Leaguer from Coopersburg is contest winner
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (August 11, 2009) – Lehigh Valley Health Network has announced that 9-year-old Ryan Yaindl of Coopersburg is the winner of a contest among the health network’s pediatric patients to design the cover of a Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ baseball program, Pork Illustrated.
From mid-May through mid-June children receiving care in the health network’s pediatric inpatient unit, pediatric intensive care unit and the Pediatric Specialty Care Center were asked to draw what makes them happy (patients’ siblings were also eligible to enter). Their artwork is featured on the health network’s Web site, LVHN.org.
Ryan, a Little League pitcher, was diagnosed earlier this year with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after discovering a lump on his neck. It was while receiving his second chemotherapy treatment at the Pediatric Specialty Care Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg that he sketched what makes him happy—baseball.
This drawing will be featured on the cover of Pork Illustrated, the official game program of the IronPigs, for the Aug. 10-13 home stand games at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown, Pa. The Yaindls will be special guests at the Aug. 12 IronPigs game, the health network’s bobble head giveaway night. Ryan will throw out a ceremonial first pitch with Elliot Sussman, M.D., the health network’s president and CEO.
The contest is just one of the many ways the health network creates the best hospital experience possible for children and their families. The care includes the area’s only child life program that helps children and their families cope emotionally and relax while the child is receiving treatment in the hospital.
The health network is proud to partner with the IronPigs this year to help educate thousands of community members about good health. This partnership includes:
A health fair held at Coca-Cola Park on June 30
“Kids Run the Bases” promotions that allow children to run the bases after every Sunday home game.
Mile markers around the park’s concourse that promote healthy behaviors.
Education days where thousands of area school children learn life lessons through baseball
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; eight health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.   Specialty care includes trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center.  Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at www.lvhn.org and by accessing www.facebook.com/lvhealthnetwork and www.twitter.com/LVHNnews.
