Children’s Health announced on April 22 that patient ambassador Adalynn was selected for the fourth consecutive year to design a custom football helmet as part of its ongoing partnership with SMU Athletics. The unveiling took place during SMU’s “Friday at Ford” event on April 17, where the team showcased Adalynn’s unique creation, reflecting her resilience and creativity.
The initiative allows Children’s Health patients to submit their own helmet designs, offering them an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. This program is a cornerstone of the collaboration between Children’s Health and SMU Athletics, which highlights the journeys of more than 370,000 patients cared for by Children’s Health each year.
Adalynn has faced lifelong gastrointestinal challenges, including chronic abdominal pain since infancy. She was eventually diagnosed with colonic dysmotility and gastroparesis after extensive testing at Children’s Health. Despite these medical issues, she remains active in sports such as volleyball, tennis, golf, and softball while also excelling as an award-winning baker.
“Most people when they think of somebody that’s sick or not able to do something, they don’t think of somebody that looks like me,” Adalynn said. Her mother added: “These experiences that we have been able to do through Children’s Health have expanded her personality and her love of art and allowed her to do all these cool things that we would never get to do in our teeny, tiny small town.” Adalynn also said: “I’m really thankful for all of the opportunities that Children’s Health has given me. I’m glad that I can share my story and maybe help some kids that are struggling with theirs.”
Mustang Partners manages sponsorships like this one in collaboration with Learfield to support branding initiatives for SMU Athletics across North Texas. The partnership aims not only to engage fans but also highlight the resilience shown by children facing complex health conditions.
Children’s Health is recognized as a leading pediatric health care system in North Texas with campuses including Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Plano among others. It is consistently ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report across multiple specialties.
