Miracle Makers: From Miracle Kid to Miracle Associate

Miracle Makers is a series of 30 stories from Walmart and Sam’s Club associates to celebrate the companies’ 30th anniversary of fundraising for CMN Hospitals

Walmart co-manager Vanessa Ramirez has up-close-and-personal experience with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She doesn’t just help raise money for kids in need; she was one.

“When I was four or five, I had a heart condition and got open heart surgery at CHOC Children’s,” Vanessa says. “At first it was scary, but the doctors and nurses were so nice. I remember I got a teddy bear pillow in the hospital.”

Vanessa returned to the hospital each year for a follow-up exam so the doctors could monitor her condition. By the time she entered high school, Vanessa was volunteering regularly at CHOC. When she started working at Walmart 13 years ago and fellow associates told her about fundraising events for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Vanessa jumped at the chance to participate.

Nowadays, you’ll find her fundraising at cookouts, eating contests, and Crazy Hat Day, all in the name of charity. She’s even passed on her love of serving the community to her kids and takes them to events at the hospital. Her 11-year-old daughter can’t wait to be old enough to officially volunteer at CHOC just like her mom.

Vanessa loves seeing how the hospital has grown over the years, thanks to customers’ donations. “They opened up a new patient care tower, and gave our Walmart and Sam’s Club associates a tour of it. It’s a great idea. CMN Hospitals is always a good project to donate to,” Vanessa says.

Donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by visiting your local Walmart or Sam’s Club today.