Young burn victim creates a chance to give back to hospital

Six-year-old Eli Anno of Shawnee knows what it’s like to spend time in the hospital, and he wants to make the experience better for other children.

That’s why he sold a bunch of his own toys to raise money to buy new toys and clothes for the patients of Children’s Mercy Hospital’s burn unit.

When Eli was about a year old and learning to walk, he stumbled at hit his hand against the fireplace.

“My husband and I were standing there, on either side. It hadn’t even been on for two minutes,” said Stefany Anno, Eli’s mother.

Eli spent 20 days at Children’s Mercy after the burn and has had three surgeries since then, the latest of which was this past February.

“Children’s Mercy, they try to make it the best they can on you. They help out the family tremendously,” Anno said. “They’ll give you a toothbrush or a meal —whatever they can do to help you.”

Before the third surgery, Eli decided he wanted to do something to help Children’s Mercy.

“When he first said it, my first thought was, ‘I don’t know, but let’s work and get you through your surgery and recovery and we’ll see.’ He kept talking about it,” Anno said. “I knew when he had his little heart set that was I going to help him.”

Anno said that this last surgery was the most difficult and painful recovery for Eli, but in spite of his difficulties, he really wanted to make the sale happen.

Anno said that she and her husband, Tony, are very proud of Eli.

“My heart was just full, and I am very proud of him and just very happy for him that he’s learned at such an early age what one person can do in helping others,” Anno said.

Because of the high risk of infection in the burn unit, all donated toys and clothing must be brand new.

Since Eli couldn’t donate the toys he already had, he got the idea to sell them and use the money he made to buy new ones for the hospital.

Eli took the initiative to set things up for the sale at his home May 15. He borrowed tables from neighbors, drew up posters to advertise and made sugar cookies shaped like rockets and trains, along with lemonade to sell.

Six other families donated toys for the sale. Anno said they had about 12 tables full of items. In the five hours they were able to sell items before rain ended the sale, Eli managed to make $518.

Initially, Eli wanted to give half the money for families in need to buy pressure garments that burn patients have to wear, but the hospital told the Annos that new toys and loose-fitting clothing were a bigger need at the burn unit.

“We asked them to send us a list of items that are needed in the burn unit. A lot of burn victims are in the hospital for quite a long time,” Anno said. “We are going to head to the store, and we are going to see how far we can make his money go for clothes and toys for his friends at the burn unit.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Young burn victim creates a chance to give back to hospital."