Submitted
A patient from Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital (PMCH) at Ascension St. Vincent had the special chance to take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium during a recent home football game. Mason Dusko, a 5-year-old from Carmel, served as the Colts “Coin Toss Kid” just before kickoff – walking to midfield for the coin toss and meeting players from both teams.
Mason was born 10 weeks early and spent nearly six months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. At just one week old, he was diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), an intestinal disease with mortality rates as high as 50 percent. Because of his fragile immune system and frequent gastrointestinal complications, Mason is a frequent visitor to the hospital. Due to his cardiovascular complications and the risk to his life, he will never be allowed to participate in his favorite contact sports of football, baseball, and basketball.
Despite all the obstacles, Mason is a very happy and strong child with an infectious personality. Mason was also featured in the Colts’ game day program, The Scout.
“Our dedicated staff and professionals at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital work miracles for their patients every day,” said Kevin Speer, JD, Senior VP Ascension and CEO Ascension St. Vincent. “We are pleased to be able to join the Colts in celebrating these kids who will always be a part of our extended family.”
The opportunity for PMCH patients to participate is part of a new long-term partnership between Ascension St. Vincent and the Colts. Fans attending home games at Lucas Oil Stadium will see new signage promoting the partnership, while radio listeners will hear the play-by-play action on the newly named Ascension St. Vincent Radio Network.
“The Colts family is beyond excited to begin this new partnership with Ascension St. Vincent and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital,” Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay said. “We look forward to working together in the years to come to highlight health and wellness in our communities and help improve health outcomes for our friends, fans and neighbors across Indiana.”
About Ascension St. Vincent
Ascension St. Vincent operates 19 hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices and clinics serving Indiana, and employs more than 13,000 associates. In Fiscal Year 2024, Ascension St. Vincent provided more than $357 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty throughout the state. Ascension St. Vincent is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, with a Mission of delivering compassionate, personalized care to all with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2023, Ascension provided $2.2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Visit ascension.org to learn more.
About Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent (PMCH), part of Ascension, one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, is a full service, dedicated children’s medical center providing the highest quality, family-centered care to children and adolescents in the state of Indiana and beyond. PMCH is staffed by more than 100 experienced pediatric sub-specialists along with pediatric nurses, social workers, child life specialists, chaplains, and other health professionals with a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to family-focused care. Visit getpeytonmanningcare.com to learn more.