June 25, 2014 — The Government Affairs team from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia accompanied Christopher Ennis and his family to Washington, DC, for The Children’s Hospital Association’s Family Advocacy Day. The event allows children’s hospitals from across the country to bring a patient and their family to Washington to participate in meetings with elected officials and advocate on issues impacting children’s healthcare. The CHA also organizes fun activities for the kids and their siblings. 

Chris has been a patient at CHOP’s Cardiac Center since before his birth, where he underwent in utero surgery for a congenital heart condition and then a heart transplant at only 1 month old. Chris and his family had the opportunity to share his story with the legislative staff of U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Scott Garrett’s (R-NJ), and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ).