ROSM
Well-known member
My 9 month old son has been unwell recently which has necessitated him having a stay in the Alex children's hospital. He is improving slowly but surely.
Today, the Albion players visited the hospital. It's one of those things that the club have done for many years and although we know it happens we get a bit blase to it. (the kind of thing that if the fat cats in the premiership got off their arses to do it would get 5 mins on match of the day as a 'superb community effort' but we just mist over when a league club does it).
This year, my wife saw the visit at first hand and this has really hammered home to me just how positive this visit is. Many of the kids there are very poorly and some are unlikley to get home for xmas. But this visit really does provide a boost to those patients, their families and also the hospital staff (who I cannot speak highly enough of).
It isn't a case of the players turning up, waving from the ward doors and then scarpering. They take time to talk to all the children they see, speak to the families and make everybody feel just that little bit special. For some players who have children this may come easily. For others it maybe doesn't. Joel Lynch was asked by my wife to hold my son for a photo. He confided that he'd 'never held a baby before' but still did it. Many of the younger players were asking questions about how things are going, were we likely to get our son home for xmas etc - not in a scripted patronising way, but in a proper well meant way.
Also a mention for Gary Hart who the last I'd heard was going on loan to havant and waterlooville (not been up with albion stuff the last couple of weeks while my sone has been unwell so not sure if that happened). He was there and was absolutely superb with all the children and really got involved.
Finally, a commendation for Gully. When the idea of bringing back a macot was first suggested, I really did cringe. However, he too was on the visit today and my son was laughing and smiling (something he's not done a lot of recently) when he had his photo with him - he has his bendy Gully in his cot at the hospital tonight and smiles every time he sees it. For that and that alone, I thank the club for bringing back Gully.
Today reinforces why I am proud to be an Albion fan and why my son will be too.
Today, the Albion players visited the hospital. It's one of those things that the club have done for many years and although we know it happens we get a bit blase to it. (the kind of thing that if the fat cats in the premiership got off their arses to do it would get 5 mins on match of the day as a 'superb community effort' but we just mist over when a league club does it).
This year, my wife saw the visit at first hand and this has really hammered home to me just how positive this visit is. Many of the kids there are very poorly and some are unlikley to get home for xmas. But this visit really does provide a boost to those patients, their families and also the hospital staff (who I cannot speak highly enough of).
It isn't a case of the players turning up, waving from the ward doors and then scarpering. They take time to talk to all the children they see, speak to the families and make everybody feel just that little bit special. For some players who have children this may come easily. For others it maybe doesn't. Joel Lynch was asked by my wife to hold my son for a photo. He confided that he'd 'never held a baby before' but still did it. Many of the younger players were asking questions about how things are going, were we likely to get our son home for xmas etc - not in a scripted patronising way, but in a proper well meant way.
Also a mention for Gary Hart who the last I'd heard was going on loan to havant and waterlooville (not been up with albion stuff the last couple of weeks while my sone has been unwell so not sure if that happened). He was there and was absolutely superb with all the children and really got involved.
Finally, a commendation for Gully. When the idea of bringing back a macot was first suggested, I really did cringe. However, he too was on the visit today and my son was laughing and smiling (something he's not done a lot of recently) when he had his photo with him - he has his bendy Gully in his cot at the hospital tonight and smiles every time he sees it. For that and that alone, I thank the club for bringing back Gully.
Today reinforces why I am proud to be an Albion fan and why my son will be too.
That is beautiful. I must say, it never really occurred to me that it was a big deal. I know most clubs do this sort of thing, but I feel we are truly blessed with a great bunch of players. I dearly hope that your son is able to fulfill yours and his dreams. I suggest that you write a similar thing to the club. God bless the Albion.
