St. Louis – September 22, 2026 -- Aflac Incorporated brought its My Special Aflac Duck robotic companion to pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease patients at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, part of a program that has distributed nearly 50,000 units free of charge since 2018 across the U.S., Japan and Northern Ireland.
Former MLB and NFL player Brian Jordan joined Aflac U.S. President Virgil Miller to read his children's book at the event
Jordan, who played seven Major League Baseball seasons in St. Louis before founding the Brian Jordan Foundation, read his book "I Told You I Can Play" to patients and families, distributing copies alongside the duck deliveries.
A 2024 clinical study of 160 patients across eight hospitals documented measurable stress reduction
The study, released by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, found the robotic duck helps reduce anxiety among pediatric patients and caregivers during cancer treatment. The device uses medical play, soundscapes and RFID emoji cards to help children aged 3 and older express emotions tied to their diagnosis and care.
Aflac's pediatric health initiative represents a 31-year, $200 million commitment
The company said the funding has gone toward pediatric cancer and blood disorder research and treatment programs. Health care providers, support organizations and families can request a duck at no cost through Aflac's dedicated childhood cancer platform for children diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease.
Virgil Miller said the visit reinforced findings from the clinical research showing long-term benefits for patients and caregivers beyond the immediate hospital visit. Sandy Koller, President of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, credited Aflac and Jordan for combining resources and platform reach to support patients during treatment.
My Special Aflac Duck was previously named among Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions and received Best in Show honors at CES and South by Southwest in 2018.