On the walls of the Wish House at Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Northern Nevada is a picture of a teenage boy, movie-star handsome and flashing a crooked grin, leaning relaxed against a park fence, baseball glove resting at his side.
This young man's journey to the time and place captured in the photo is an amazing one that started when he was 12 years old, when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. Casey and his family were thrown into a new world of medical treatments, hospitals and medical bills. During this time of stress and loneliness, along came the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
When it came time for Casey to choose a wish, he thought long and hard about it. While battling for his life, there had been no time for his beloved Little League games. He had missed a lot of baseball and wanted to make up for lost time with a batting cage of his own.
Casey’s wish brought an entire community together to witness the amazing heart and courage of a 13-year-old boy as the batting cage was installed in his own backyard.
As Casey approaches his 16th birthday, he is a proud member of the Damonte Ranch baseball team and freshman class president at his school. He also serves as a roving ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, sharing his experience with others at meetings, dinners, and special events throughout the community.
When Casey speaks, he tells an amazing story: his story. But it’s the calm confidence of the speaker that mesmerizes the audience. Casey can be heard saying, “Once you face down death, you never look at life the same.”
Making every minute count is what Casey does every day, whether it's in service to others, experiencing the joys of baseball, or sharing a story about life and the power of a wish.
This page can be found at http://www.wish.org/stories/adventure/outdoor_recreation/casey_batting_cage
©2006 Make-A-Wish Foundation®
