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This wish story makes me feel: |
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Brycen winds up for the pitch at his new home field.
Brycen, 4, was born with pulmonary atresia, a rare heart defect. He had his first lifesaving open-heart surgery when he was just two days old. Weeks later, his parents finally took him home.
Later, one of Brycen’s nurses encouraged his parents to contact the Make-A-Wish Foundation® . Pam and Alan, volunteer wish granters and former wish parents themselves, responded. They visited Brycen several times and asked him, “If you could wish for anything, what would you choose?”
Brycen said, “A baseball field!”
When they asked him why, Brycen said, “Because I need a field that no one can kick me off of.” His older brothers both play on a traveling baseball team, and Brycen and his parents travel with them. Brycen longs to take the field with the big kids, but he is shooed away every time.
His parents began to wonder if having his own field would offer Brycen the only opportunity for baseball he would ever have. He would probably never play competitively like his brothers, because of the condition of his heart and his oxygen supply. After careful consideration, plans were in the works for a baseball field. And Brycen’s wish would soon become a field of dreams for the whole community.
Rallied by their coach, the Canyon View High School baseball team and their families spent many days in the field behind Brycen’s home. They dug trenches for sprinklers and laid sod. Neighbors built a backstop and lights, built the dugouts and placed the foul poles. An authentic baseball field began to take shape.
The day Brycen’s wish was granted, the community gathered again. He knew the day would be special when a big Coca-Cola truck pulled up to their house. It was crammed with all the traditional game day concessions: hot dogs, popcorn and drinks for everyone! Brycen’s wish granters presented him with his own uniform. He was apprehensive to wear it at first because he didn’t want to ruin it sliding into home plate.
The inaugural game against the Canyon View team started with the singing of the national anthem by Jordan, a fellow wish kid from southern Utah. Jordan’s dad hung a banner that said, “Brycen’s Wish … In His Field of Dreams.” And the Canyon View High School band led “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. Tickets, balloons and game announcers made the whole event memorable for everyone who attended.
Brycen did eventually get his uniform dirty. In fact, he said his favorite part of his wish was “when I slid into home and beat Canyon View!”
But that was only the beginning of Brycen’s wish. Every day, Brycen is on the field with his friends and family playing ball. The community has embraced this special place where everyone gathers on a field that they built together for one courageous little boy.
When asked what his wish has meant to Brycen, his mom replied “It’s hard to know since he is so young, but I wish you could see the smile on his face when he is batting, or the joy in his giggle as he slides into home.”
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Sounds like an awesome wish Brycen. Our son Bryce who was born with complex single ventricle, and other heart defects had his third heart surgery July 2009 at age 4 1/2 years. He got his Make A Wish granted Nov. 2009 to meet Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Best wishes for you and your family Brycen. Enjoy playing on your baseball field. Keep your heart healthy and strong.
Way to go again Make A Wish!
~Yvonne, Bryce's mom
- Yvonne 03/08/2010 8:42 -
I loved Brycen's story and it totally hit home with me. My daughter was a wish reciptient as well. Her heart condition is Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome and Pulmonary Stenosis of the LPA. Thank God for Make-A-Wish. They made my daughter's dream reality.
- Christy 03/05/2010 14:34 -
Yayyyy - I say the grass stains on Brycen's uniform are an official part of the design!
- Sheryl 03/05/2010 11:13 -
I have to say that the ability the foundation offers is staggering. The idea that we as people of a community can unify together and bring joy, whether it be minimal or grand, is such a blessing. My heart goes out to this young man. Life is a string of moments. I am so elated and over-the-top excited to be a volunteer. I live to be a haven of hope and serenity for people. children especially. Once again, great job!
- Orlando 03/11/2010 12:13 -
This is so awesome I love to see people pull together and do what they can to make a wish come true for a child!!! You go Make a wish!
- Lisa 03/25/2010 7:48 -
What a wonderful story! Make a Wish does incredible things for our children. My son, who is 10 years old, has pulmanary atresia too. His wish was to go to Disneyworld at Christmas time. Our family had an awesome time and every last detail was taken care of. Even a private visit with Mickey.
- Wendi 03/24/2010 19:05 -
Play ball, Brycen!
- Elyse 05/10/2010 11:55 -
Just read Brycen's story which caught my eye because of baseball. All three of my boys played from the time they were little through high school and I could not imagine their disappointment if they could not of played. I sat here reading this in tears. What an awesome gift make a wish.
- Cheryl 07/08/2010 9:55 -
its cool i mean its so wonderful.......................members completing every special child's wish
- chirag 09/19/2010 5:30 -
Brycen! What's up buddy? How's the baseball field going for you? Do you like it? We are so glad to hear that people came together as one and built this field for you. I, Anthony, wish could play with you on that field. Jamie doesn't play baseball, but he says he would still want to play with us. As Bob Lemon once said "baseball is for kids, grown-ups only screw it up." So enjoy the years while you're young! Best of luck to you and have a fantastic life and live it to the fullest!
- Anthony and Jamie 09/24/2010 9:07 -
Hi Brycen! We are from Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines, Iowa. We were assigned to pick a child from the Make A Wish website that we were inspired by. We chose you!!! We really enjoyed your story and we think that you definitely deserve your own baseball field! We hope that you are doing well today and are enjoying your wonderful gift. Be thankful for your family and friends around you because they love you very very much. If you want, you can email us back at rseidl95@hotmail.com Have a great day! We wish you the best!
LOVE,
DANNI and RACHEL (:
- Rachel & Danni 09/24/2010 7:20 -
I loved your wish! It's so nice when people come together to help one person and make their biggest wish come true. Stay Strong!
- Tori 09/23/2010 12:19 -
Congrats! YOU ROCK! You never gave up on playing baseball, so never give up on anything that you ever do in your life. Keep fighting.
- Nick and Tommy 09/23/2010 12:18 -
Brycen,
We just read your story. it caught our eye because Rebekka plays softball and I play baseball! we thought it was so cool that you got a baseball field in your backyard! we are so jealous! I bet all of the food in the coke truck tasted amazing! Hope you keep playing ball! its a great sport!
- Tommy and Rebekka 09/23/2010 12:15 -
Hi brycen were three students from Des Moines, Iowa brandon and and Joey play football and Addie run cross country. We think that your wish is so cool! Have fun on your new field.
Sincerely,
Joey Brandon and Addie:)
- Addie Joey Brandon 09/23/2010 7:41
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