Student-ambassador shares her heart of gold

Seneca Valley junior Elexa White has a one-of-a kind heart. Diagnosed at two months of age with a hole in her heart, Elexa is alive and well today thanks to a life-saving surgical procedure.  Since she was 12 years old, Elexa has been on a quest to share her story and raise awareness while working with the American Heart Association (AHA) and March of Dimes. This year, she also has been asked to be a Patient Ambassador for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. In 2017, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation started a new program, the Patient Ambassador Program and Elexa is one of 12 patients who will represent the brave kids who have journeyed through Children’s Hospital. The group will represent services from across the hospital, and during the year, Elexa will get the opportunity to share her story, assist in fundraising efforts, and represent Children’s at community fundraising events. Elexa has already begun her duties as an Ambassador with appearances at the Pittsburgh Magazine Ultimate House event and the 10th annual DVE Rocks for Children’s Radiothon. At the 64th Annual KDKA Free Care Fund Benefit Show on Dec. 14, Elexa was a junior host with anchors and reporters from KDKA-TV and KDKA Radio.