Meet Our Champions

When 9-year-old Sumukh began having persistent nausea, loss of appetite, and fevers that wouldn’t break, his family assumed it was a virus. But after weeks of symptoms and new bloodwork, their pediatrician broke down in tears: it was leukemia. "It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under us," recalls his mom. They rushed to Children’s National Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, where, within hours, Sumukh received blood transfusions and began his first round of chemotherapy. The next morning, the family worked with donor-funded Certified Child Life Specialists to find words to help him understand what was happening. "We wouldn’t have been able to explain it without them," says his mom. The early days were hard. Confined to bed, Sumukh missed school, karate, and cricket. But as he grew stronger, his personality began to shine again. "Once I realized I’d be okay," he says, "I made it my second home." Soon, he was exploring every corner of the hospital, playing bingo, joining game shows, and creating a video game league for patients and nurses. His laughter filled the halls, earning him the nickname "Mayor of 4 East" (the hospital floor on which his treatment was on). Even during treatments, doctors and nurses made time to talk, play, and celebrate his milestones, like finishing schoolwork or winning a video game race. After eight months of treatment and four rounds of chemotherapy, Sumukh rang the bell, celebrating the end of his treatment with a Mario Kart–themed party. Now cancer-free and back in school, he continues to visit the hospital that became his second family, always ready to give back and make others smile. "He does everything he can to make people feel special," says his mom. "Children’s National gave that same love to him."