Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/ Jared Brosnan
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – When the Red Sox took to the field Sunday, there were some very special fans in Florida cheering them on.
The Jimmy Fund sent just shy of 50 kids down to Fort Meyers who are all battling cancer at Dana Farber to catch a game, feel the sun, and just be kids.
Doctors and nurses at Dana Farber acted as the chaperones for the trip so all the kids could be taken care of medically. But when it came to emotionally, the kids really take care of each other.
“Obviously meeting the Red Sox, going to a game, and having the opportunity able to feel free like normal kids, staying in a hotel, all that stuff is really important,” said Pediatric Oncologist Allison O’Neill. “The relationships and the bonds that they build are so fundamental and help them through arguably the most difficult times in their lives.”
Its so fundamental to meet and hang out with kids going through the same things, that meeting professional athletes comes secondary to meeting peers.
“One time I asked one of the kids ‘who was your favorite person you got to meet?’ said Lisa Scherber, Director of Patient and Family Programs for the Jimmy Fund Clinic. “He said ‘my roommate!”
This isn’t the only trip like it. The Jimmy Fund has also had other smaller trips for the kids. One Girls Trip is where some of the kids had met before. Starting a text chain so they could be sure to pack the right things for the sunshine.
“I’m friends with a few girls right now, we have a group chat and we packed together. Theres like 46 kids going on this trip and I’ve only met like 10 of them,” said 17 year old patient Ava Fischthal.
It all goes back to these kids. They are just kids but dealing with some really hard battles so young. That’s why the Jimmy Fund works to help them though it.
“It was really hard when we were in the hospital but I’m just glad to be here,” said Fischthal.
And when it comes to the game, the Sox were able to get a win against the Twins at spring training. But when it comes to life and baseball, 14 year old patient James has some words of wisdom…
“Gotta just keep it positive, always!”
WBZ NewsRadio's Jared Brosnan (@JaredBrosnanWBZ) reports.