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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Dragons Present An Anthem Home Run for Life

July 18, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons will host 15-year-old Hanna Lebamoff during the unique Anthem Home Run for Life program on Wednesday, July 25, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Fifth Third Field.

The Anthem Home Run for Life program provides children in the Dayton region who are battling serious medical conditions with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each honoree gets to take a lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during a sold-out Dragons home game while the crowd cheers them on.

Hanna's Story

Hanna Lebamoff was born in China with a deformed right leg and spent the first three years of her life in an orphanage. Doctors mistakenly diagnosed her with hip dysplasia and put her leg in a full-length cast.

Unfortunately, this didn't solve Hanna's issues. When the cast came off, her muscles and bones were weak and useless. The orphanage labeled Hanna as "unadoptable', but this did not stop her. At the age of two, she taught herself how to climb, crawl, and walk without using her right leg.

On the other side of the world, Mary Chellis received several calls about Hanna years after having submitted a request to adopt a child from China. Mary was shocked. Now being a single mom with two boys, she wasn't sure if she was ready or able to adopt; nevertheless, Mary decided to move forward with the process. She and her two sons traveled halfway around the world to bring Hanna home.

Mary brought Hanna back to Dayton, Ohio, to meet with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Doctors reviewed Hanna and realized her problems were more developed than expected. Her right leg was significantly shorter, her right foot was turned away from her body, and her muscles had atrophied. While the definitive diagnosis is still unknown, Hanna's medical team is treating her for hemimelia.

Hemimelia is a rare birth defect in which all or some of the bone of the leg is missing or not developing. This can further cause problems with the hip joint, weak or missing ligaments, or foot displacement.

Hanna has undergone six surgeries to lengthen and strengthen her bones by placing rods in her femur, tibia, and fibula. Bone strength is a continuous battle Hanna will face as she grows older. For continuous support, Hanna always wears an ankle brace and a leg beg brace for walking longer distances.

Today, Hanna is 15 years old and feels great. She embodies the spirit that one is not defined by their disabilities. "I can do almost anything you can do," Hanna said. "Sure, it is hard, but one thing I've learned is to keep going and not give up."

Hanna will be a Sophomore at Carroll High School next school year. She enjoys being outdoors and spending time at Grandma's house and is looking forward to being on the swim team.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Hanna's life, including her mom Mary, her brothers Andrew and Jacob, her specialist Dr. Albert, her physical therapist Anne Smith, and her entire medical team. Please join us in cheering on Hanna as she completes her Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on July 25.

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