Meet our 2019 Children’s Miracle Network Champion: David Powell

 

We are proud to recognize David Powell as our 2019 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals Champion for MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital. CMN Hospitals raise money and awareness for children’s hospitals across the country, including MUSC Children’s Health and the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, which opens later this year.

David will serve as the face of all local CMN Hospital campaigns throughout the 2019 calendar year. David’s mom, Sarahann, recently answered a few questions about David’s health journey.

Tell us about what brought David to MUSC.

David was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NNICU) on Nov. 18, 2008, at 4 days old. He was having seizures and fighting for his life. His bilirubin level was four times what it should have been. He had two double-volume exchange transfusions while receiving phototherapy in 24 hours to bring his level down as quickly as possible. He spent the next five days on and off the ventilator and undergoing diagnostic testing. After 10 days, David came home with a diagnosis of kernicterus— brain damage caused by excessive jaundice. The bilirubin also damaged his auditory nerve leaving him hearing impaired.

David is now a happy, walking, talking 10-year old who just made A/B honor roll for the first time. We are so thankful to the NNICU doctors whose treatment decisions in David’s first 24 hours at MUSC helped make possible who David is today!

Although David is new to his role as CMN Champion, he has been representing MUSC Children’s Hospital for years.

David has been a “Miracle Kid” representing MUSC Children’s Hospital since 2015. He has had the opportunity to attend many events to help raise awareness and funds for the continued need of the hospital in our community. In sharing his story, we are also able to give people a one-on-one account of the miracles that are possible at MUSC Children’s Hospital! 

David loves attending events and spreading the news of all the great things MUSC has done for him. Some of his favorites are the Legends in the South baseball game and the month-long CMN campaign at Costco. He also thoroughly enjoyed taking over 5Church restaurant in September of last year, when “Miracle Kids” served patrons and thanked them personally for supporting MUSC.

What are you most excited about in the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital?

The new hospital is going to be amazing and such a blessing to families all over South Carolina! The new and improved atrium and the addition of the playground and other play areas are features David is very excited about. We are also looking forward to the hospital having its own helicopter pad.

What does your family like to do for fun?

We are an outdoorsy family and enjoy hunting and fishing. David also loves to attend local sporting events especially South Carolina Stingrays hockey games.

Does David know what he wants to be when he grows up?

David loves technology and wants to be a video game programmer when he grows up.