- Utahn Kendalyn Illu, 11, will be featured on General Mills cereal boxes.
- She represents Primary Children's Hospital and 170 children's hospitals nationwide as a national champion with Children's Miracle Network.
- Despite living with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Kendalyn does ballet and plays with friends.
SYRACUSE — Students at Bluffdale Elementary in Syracuse cheered when it was announced that their classmate, 11-year-old Kendalyn Illu, was selected as a national champion to represent Primary Children's Hospital and 170 children's hospitals across the country.
Her recognition from the Children's Miracle Network includes her face on General Mills cereal boxes in Costco stores nationwide, along with 19 other children. They will be featured in May.
Kendalyn and the other children were selected for their positive attitudes and for setting examples for other children in their communities.
She has been a patient at Primary Children's Hospital since she was born. She was diagnosed with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, which has caused intestinal failure and the need to receive nutrition through a central line.
In a video from when she was chosen as the 2025 Primary Children's Hospital patient champion, Dr. Justin Wheeler explained that she will occasionally have episodes where her obstruction flares or she gets an infection and she stays in the hospital for multiple weeks.
"She's really done a good job handling that stress and getting through those long hospitalizations and coming out the other side still a resilient child who loves life," he said.
Despite her many challenges and hospitalizations, Kendalyn has thrived.
"I pretty much have done random things my whole life at Primary Children's, but that doesn't stop me from having fun. I go to ballet, I go to Disney, I've done Nutcracker, I play with my friends. I do all that fun stuff," Kendalyn said.
Her medical alert dog, Reggie, a black poodle who wears a pink vest, can often be seen with her wherever she goes.
"Intermountain children's health leaders are excited for Kendalyn to experience the huge honor, representing all the children who are cared for at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital," a hospital statement says.
