Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio and Dragons present an Anthem Home Run for Life

Dayton, Ohio-Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio and the Dayton Dragons will host five-year-old Levi Suttles during the unique Anthem Home Run for Life program on Wednesday, July 3, at 7:00 p.m., when the Dayton Dragons take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods 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.
Levi's Story
It was the spring of 2018 when Levi Suttles was taken to the urgent care for an ear infection. While Levi's parents, Kristen and Chad, thought he had only a minor illness, doctors sent the family to the pediatric hospital for recommended blood testing. Remembering that Chad's brother was a leukemia survivor, Levi's parents sat in the hospital waiting room for an hour; their fears building that their son too might have cancer.
Results came back from the blood tests and their fears were confirmed. On March 5, 2018, Levi was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL.) Levi was immediately transferred to the hospital where he underwent a blood platelet transfusion, a spinal tap, a PICC line and a port installation.
ALL is an aggressive type of cancer that starts from the lymphocytes in the bone marrow. The cancer develops early in the white blood cells and the cells quickly invade the blood stream moving throughout the body.
Levi's chemotherapy was so aggressive that the medicine quickly weakened the muscles and nerves in his body. In January of 2019, Levi lost the ability to walk, but with the help of the doctors, support of his parents, and his own courage, he was able to regain his strength just four months later. 

Since April 4, Levi has no evidence of the disease and is in the remission stage of his journey. While his story is filled with needles and chemotherapy, what Levi remembers is the good times-­ foam sword fights, Nerf gun wars, and his 'engagement' to his nurse! Though he is young, Levi believes that "having ALL has made him strong. Strong enough to kick cancer's butt."
Levi is heading into the first grade at Miami View Elementary in the fall, and he is most excited to visit the zoo this summer with his family.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Levi's life, including his parents Kristen and Chad, his sister Madison, Dr. Wright and his entire medical team. Please join us in cheering on Levi as he completes his Home Run for Life at Fifth Third Field on July 3.
More Information: The Dayton Dragons are the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and play a 70-game home schedule at beautiful Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton, easily accessible from Interstate 75. Individuals and groups seeking information about Dayton Dragons group tickets, lawn tickets, the season ticket wait list, sponsorship opportunities or booking a Dragons speaker are encouraged to contact the Dragons by calling at (937) 228-2287, emailing at [email protected], or on the web at daytondragons.com.