Memorial Children's Hospital and South Bend Silver Hawks Partner for Home Run for Life

Published on July 18, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


South Bend, Indiana ( July 18th, 2014)- Memorial Children's Hospital and your Silver Hawks will celebrate two brothers, Emanuel A. and Emanuel E. Neily, during a special celebration ceremony, Home Run for Life, on Friday, July 18th.

The celebration will take place in the middle of the 3rd inning at Four Winds Field. Your Silver Hawks, along with the Burlington Bees, will line the field to join in on the ceremony as two brothers round the bases. Upon completing the celebratory home run, Silver Hawks' Manager, Mark Haley will present them with a personalized Silver Hawks jersey. Home Run for Life celebrates and honors children who have battled serious medical conditions. Each child is honored and takes a home run lap around the bases during a Silver Hawks home game.

At the closing of the celebration staff and volunteers from Memorial Children's Hospital will pass around donation buckets. Please consider giving a donation to help enhance the care children can receive right here in your community.

Neily Brothers' Story

For most people, trips to the hospital are thankfully few and far between. But for some, like the Emanuel boys, a trip to the hospital is just as routine as going to school or brushing your teeth. The brothers, both named Emanuel, are fourteen and six and have each been treated at the hospital for nearly their entire lives.

The boys were born with a variation of Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited form of anemia. It's a condition where there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate amounts of oxygen to the body. Currently, there is no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia. However, certain treatments can help relieve pain and prevent further problems associated with the disease.

The oldest son has been coming to Memorial Children's Hospital since he was born and returns every four to six weeks for blood transfusions to keep him healthy and active. With the help of a friendly, caring staff these visits are far from unpleasant. In fact, nurses even threw Emanuel a surprise party when he was hospitalized during his birthday.

The younger Emanuel, a shy but sweet six year old, only has to be hospitalized when his immune system, which is weakened by his condition, can't fight off an infection. When this happens he and his family know that they have a caring, dedicated staff that will help him get back on his feet.

When asked who their favorite doctor or nurse was, there was silence, and then giggles. "Whoever is here today, that's who my favorite is," they both say. "They're all awesome!"

"The staff here is like my second family," the boys' mother Latonia added during their most recent trip to the hospital. "If it weren't for the people here at Memorial Children's Hospital, I truly don't know what I'd do. They're like my second family. They truly are my second family. I wouldn't trade their support and friendship for anything."

Please join Memorial Children's Hospital and your Silver Hawks in cheering on the Neily brothers as they complete their Home Run for Life at Four Winds Field on July 18th. For more information about Memorial Children's Hospital and Pinwheel Heroes like the Neilys visit qualityoflife.org/childrenshospital.

The South Bend Silver Hawks are a Class A minor league team affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose sole shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, IL. To purchase tickets to a game visit www.SilverHawks.com, call the Box Office at 574-235-9988, or stop by between 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

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Midwest League Stories from July 18, 2014


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