Kearney girl uses telemedicine robot to attend grade school graduation

Elli helped control the robot from her hospital room

Elli Cunningham, 11, of Kearney, Missouri, nearly missed her elementary school graduation ceremony because she’s in a hospital fighting cancer.

But she still took part in the event and even made an appearance on stage to accept her diploma, with a little help from technology.

The Dogwood Elementary School student has spent the last 20 days in a hospital room receiving treatment for stage 4 kidney cancer that has spread to her lungs.

Children’s Mercy sent in a robot with a video tablet to make the walk for Elli during the ceremony.

Elli smiled through her pain as she used an iPad app to move the robot. A family friend guided the robot onto the stage at the school.

See the full story via KMBC 9.

Learn more about the Children's Mercy Cancer Center.

Learn more about telemedicine technology used at Children's Mercy.