KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer and country music star Darius Rucker on Monday announced the release of the Ernest Hummingbird storybook app and underscored their support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by donating the app to its 170 children’s hospitals.

“Ernest Hummingbird is a heartwarming children’s story of hope and inspiration,” Thayer said. “Our wish is that all children will enjoy the storybook and have fun singing-along with Ernest.”

At Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) Children’s Hospital in Charleston on Monday, Thayer and Rucker, who helped bring to life Ernest’s stories on the app, announced the donation of the app to the 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America, making it available to the more than 10 million kids treated at member hospitals across North America each year. The storybook app is now available for purchase in the iTunes store for $2.99.

“These amazing stories provide another resource for caregivers, such as Child Life specialists, to connect with kids. Such stories of hope and inspiration are helpful in the care of kids who are facing challenging diseases and injuries or complicated surgeries,” said Amanda Mahaffey, director of Children’s Miracle Network at MUSC Children’s Hospital. “It’s charitable support from friends like Tommy and Darius that help us provide services, such as Child Life programs, that are not covered by insurance or government programs.”

Thayer and Rucker’s ongoing dedication to philanthropy and supporting children’s hospitals’ healthcare initiatives continues to be a priority for both of them. While at MUSC Children’s Hospital, they visited with patients and performed a song from the storybook app. Thayer and Rucker, along with app creator Mechem Media, also donated a select number of iPads to the hospital’s Child Life Department so that patients and future patients can enjoy and benefit from Ernest Hummingbird’s adventures.

Beckham’s family first became acquainted with his children’s hospital when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. When Beckham started having fevers and stomach pain three years later, they returned to the hospital for a second diagnosis: a rare blood disease that only affects one in a million kids.

Beckham received his first chemotherapy treatment within 48 hours of arriving at the hospital. He also needed a bone marrow transplant. He was living on borrowed time and medical professionals knew immediate action was imperative.

After family members and friends proved unsuitable matches, a miracle came in the form of a stranger registered to a national marrow donor program. The transplant was successful, and by the end of 2013, Beckham was in remission. Though still monitored for his diabetes, Beckham is happy to be playing football, golfing and riding his bike again.

How donations helped Beckham at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital:  

Donations helped fund the Children’s Specialty Center and Mountain States Tumor Institute at Beckham’s children’s hospital. These facilities practice multidisciplinary care centered on the family, so Beckham’s doctors work together to ensure enhanced communication and ease of access.

Jensen was born at just under 28 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds, 3 ounces. His lungs were not fully developed, requiring a tracheostomy to assist his breathing and a gastrostomy tube to help with nutrition.

After 15 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Jensen was ready to come home, but his parents struggled to find home health care that fit all of Jensen’s complex needs. That’s when four NICU nurses volunteered to be trained for home health care on their own time. Jensen is now a growing boy, and doctors are hoping to remove his tracheostomy and gastrostomy tubes soon.

It’s been a long road for Jensen, but his medical journey hasn’t kept him from doing what he loves: riding his four-wheeler, playing on his swing and jumping on his trampoline.

How donations helped Jensen at WVU Medicine Children’s:  

The neonatal intensive care unit where Jensen spent 15 months of his life is funded by CMN Hospitals donations. Funds also help purchase equipment, and support child life services and everyday needs at the hospital.

Numerous doctors have said Olivia is not a “textbook case” because her medical issues are very unusual. Olivia’s list of illnesses is extensive, including multiple congenital heart defects, a bleeding disorder, liver disease, an enlarged spleen, Noonan syndrome, two brain aneurysms and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Despite needing life-long care, Olivia’s prognosis is great. She responds well to treatments and lives an active life with a smile and a positive spirit.

Olivia loves to sing and make up songs. She doesn’t let her diagnoses hold her back from pursuing her dreams and passion for musical theater. In true Olivia fashion, her favorite saying is “It’s on like Donkey Kong!”

How donations helped Olivia at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta:  

CMN Hospitals donations have supported the hospital’s cardiac services, which benefited Olivia. Her family and doctors believe she would not be alive today without the services and medical advancements achieved through cardiac research to improve post-surgery implications, all made possible through contributions.

Lauren is going places. From her savvy social media skills to the stylish custom pajamas she had a family friend make for her hospital stays, Lauren knows exactly what she wants and works hard to reach her goals.

She’s already proven herself as a warrior: she’s alive despite being given a 10 percent chance of survival after going into diabetic ketoacidosis. Lauren doesn’t like her situation, but the ambitious singer and dancer says, “I can live with it,” in true powerhouse form.

Since her diagnosis at age 7, it’s been far from an easy transition. From painful pump changes to education sessions with her schoolmates to teach them about diabetes, it’s a lot to handle. But not enough to dim Lauren’s spirit. Her mother has called her “Sunshine Girl” since infancy because Lauren would rise with the sun, murmuring songs from her crib. Like the rays she’s nicknamed after, she’ll continue bringing energy and hope to all around her.

How donations helped Lauren at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital:  

Lauren spent an excessive amount of time in the pediatric intensive care unit, where CMN Hospitals donations purchased syringe pumps and ultrasound Machines. Funds also provide books, distraction toys for patients, and support for art and music therapy for kids like Lauren.

Ayden entered this world at 25 weeks gestation weighing only 14 ounces. He was roughly the size of a dollar bill and had to fight for each breath.

It was 10 excruciating weeks before Ayden’s mother held him for the first time. It was nine months before he graduated from tube feeding and had his first bottle. And it was 515 days before Ayden was able to go home, though he still required around-the-clock care from specially trained nurses.

His early life entrance affected not only his size, but his eyes, lungs and heart as well. Eye and hernia surgeries, a feeding tube placement and a tracheostomy, along with occupational, speech and physical therapies have each helped immensely.

Now, Ayden is doing quite well. Described as friendly and outgoing, Ayden is known for greeting his classmates by name as he walks down the hall. He has an incredible memory, loves music and dancing and, if it was up to him, he’d always be outside.

How donations helped Ayden at Ministry Saint Joseph Children’s Hospital:  

Donations helped Ayden’s intensive care nurses become certified as an essential home-care group that provided around-the-clock care once he was finally discharged. CMN Hospitals funds also provided a wheelchair that could hold Ayden and the oxygen, ventilator and feeding tubes he depended on.

When Milly gets excited about visiting her friends, she’s not anticipating a trip to the park. The children’s hospital, where she’s been treated since birth, houses the comrades Milly seeks. From doctors to volunteers, staffers have won over this little girl’s heart by making her multiple stays as comfortable as possible.

Milly’s familiarity with her children’s hospital results from receiving treatment for pulmonary hypoplasia and several other conditions. The under-development of her lungs has affected other areas of her body, leading to issues like hearing loss and reflux.

It’s rare for Milly to exhibit fear, but she recently admitted to being afraid of an upcoming procedure. Her surgeon and child life specialists were quick to lend an ear, alleviating her anxiety. It’s this kind of personalized care that heavily influenced her family’s decision to move closer to their hospital to better meet her medical needs.

How donations helped Milly at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center:  

CMN Hospitals donations support the child life services program, which serves the psychosocial, developmental, emotional and educational needs of patients and families. Child life staff members helped Milly understand and cope with her diagnosis.

Alex was born with half a heart. Since his birth, he has suffered strokes, endured a heart transplant and has had surgery to remove a large abscess on his liver.

Through everything, Alex remains extremely positive. He will need to take medication for the rest of his life to ensure that his body doesn’t reject his new heart. These medications make it harder for his body to fight off illnesses, but his new heart makes a lot of things possible that weren’t possible before.

Alex loves anything that moves and has been fascinated with trucks, trains, and motorcycles since he was a toddler. He also enjoys working on puzzles and putting together complex Legos creations.

While in the hospital, Alex didn’t like the idea of a bucket list, so he created a “live list” including activities, accomplishments, lessons learned and moments of joy. He is giving his all to his second chance at life.

How donations helped Alex at Primary Children’s Hospital:  

Funds raised through CMN Hospitals go directly to help kids like Alex at his children’s hospital. This includes the charity care program, specialized equipment and other programs and services to meet the needs of kids like Alex.

Sara’s parents had always dreamed of adopting a child from another country. They were ecstatic to welcome into their family a beautiful, brown-eyed 3-year-old from Nepal. Just as she was settling in, Sara was diagnosed with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing cancer. Sara’s parents were devastated for their daughter. She was also fighting a parasite, needed additional physical therapy because she was extremely weak, and didn’t speak English.

They took everything in stride, and throughout 28 months of treatment, Sara began to thrive. She came to love her caregivers, learned English and Chinese simultaneously, and was declared cancer-free in 2013.

Today, Sara is a social butterfly who loves telling stories and dressing in pretty clothes and accessories. Her parents are grateful Sara is healthy and happy, and are hopeful that her check-ups and scans will continue to be clear.

How donations helped Sara at Sanford Children’s Hospital — Sioux Falls:  

CMN Hospitals donations fund the child life and social work programs that were instrumental in Sara’s care. She also benefited from specialized equipment, a cancer survivor camp and special school programs made possible by community donations.

Zion can capture attention with his trademark smile. With a constantly positive attitude — even when in excruciating pain from the sickle cell disease he bravely battles — he lights up the room with his warm personality.