J

I received a very sad phone call yesterday. The headline on our local paper announced the death of a little boy, he was only three. J was the little brother of two of my players on our baseball team last year. There are some kids who just reach out and touch your heart immediately, he was one. J was born severely deformed. He didn't have proper use of his hands as the wrist was turned inwards and he had some deformities on his face. As with most handicapped children these deformities never got in his way. He was just like any little brother, he wanted to do whatever his older siblings did. Before the games his dad would help him play catch with some of the other kids. When we would go to the batting cage we all helped J have a turn hitting the ball. I will never forget that giggle as he would say "Did you see that?".
The ladies were always in trouble when J was around. He was such a flirt! He would pick out 2 different ladies every game and alternate sitting with them. He would smile and share his candy. He would yell for the team with the rest of us and giggle as the kids ran the bases. J was such a sweet and loving little boy. He had been through many surgeries to attempt to correct some of the deformities as well as for his little heart. He only had one more surgery to go, that's the one he didn't make it through.
I know what his family is going through and my heart breaks for them. If you have a moment during the day and you don't mind say a little something for his family. I only hope they can pull through this tragedy and find some since of peace through all of this. My thoughts are with them.