Brian Jordan and Aflac bring comfort to St. Louis pediatric patients

Jordan, who spent seven seasons playing professional baseball in St. Louis, returned to the hospital to read his children’s book, "I Told You I Can Play," to patients and their families. The story follows a young boy overcoming the skepticism of others to pursue his dreams, a narrative Jordan uses to mirror the persistence required during medical treatment. Each child in attendance received a personal copy of the book to accompany their new robotic companion.

The My Special Aflac Duck is a therapeutic tool designed to assist children in navigating the stress of their diagnosis through medical play and interactive features like RFID emoji cards. Since the program’s inception in 2018, Aflac has provided nearly 50,000 of these companions globally, free of charge. A 2024 clinical study involving 160 patients confirmed that the device measurably reduces anxiety in both young patients and their caregivers, reinforcing the company's 31-year, $200 million commitment to pediatric health research.