CMN Hospitals holiday card features PdC teen’s artwork
Braden Ball, 16, of Prairie du Chien, holds a copy of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals holiday card that features his artwork. Braden is shown with his mom Sherrie and Rena Cash, CMN Hospitals specialist at Gundersen Health System.
Each year, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals holds a contest in which kids can submit their drawings for selection to be a design for a holiday card.
This year’s contest winner is Braden Ball, a 16 year old from Prairie du Chien.
Braden, a freshman at Prairie du Chien High School, has experienced several health challenges and has undergone around 20 surgeries due to having an undiagnosed genetic disease. While having this disease, Braden has always found a reason to smile.
In the future, Braden would like to be a physical therapist or invent video games.
Braden’s holiday card design holds a special importance to him. His motivation for the creation came from a great pastime of his, bird watching. During recovery from surgeries when he was unable to walk, his mom hung bird feeders outside his window. Braden enjoyed watching the bright red cardinals perched on the bird feeder, in contrast to the white snow. The mittens depict Braden’s favorite color-orange.
Over the years, CMN has been able to support Braden in his journey. When he was younger, CMN Hospitals purchased Braden an adaptive bike. Since then, he has received a recumbent bike for rehabilitation and a memory foam mattress. CMN Hospitals has also been able to help out with travel and food expenses.
Braden is honored to be a part of the fundraising process for CMN Hospitals since they have been there for him in times of need. By purchasing and sharing these holiday cards, you will be helping children like Braden. In each package, there are 20 cards, envelopes and envelope seals.
For the 29th year, Empire Screen Printing has generously donated its time and materials so all money raised by the sale of these holiday cards goes to support CMN Hospitals locally.
This year’s holiday cards are available in La Crosse at the Gundersen Gift Shop, Gundersen Medical Foundation, Degen Berglund and Gundersen Credit Union.
Braden would like local businesses to consider selling the CMN cards to represent his community. If interested in carrying the holiday cards, call CMN Hospitals at (608) 775-4424 or (800) 853-6889
Interested purchasers are also able to order these cards online at gundersenhealth.org/cmnhospitals/holiday-cards.
