My wife is a hospice nurse. This story was sent to their team in a company email. I wanted to share this but she thought it best to omit the actual names of the hospice and the individuals involved. It is a true story and was originally sent with pictures which she did not want me to use. I don't know about anybody else but it had me choked up at the end.
[quote:bb8f6b6089]Thank you team Michigan for this amazing story!!!!
As a life-long Detroit Tigers fan, J.A. has always dreamed of attending a game. With the help of the XXX Hospice Foundation and the Detroit Tigers Organization, J and his family realized his dream this summer. Wearing an authentic baseball jersey purchased by our XXX Foundation, J and his sister rode in style in a Lincoln Navigator to Comerica Park to see the baseball game. J was escorted onto the field where he watched batting practice and met Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leeland and Tiger greats Jose Valverde, Tom Brookens and Rafeal Beliard. Afterwards J and his sister enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Tigers Den overlooking the baseball field. And to top off the day, J watched the game in an air-conditioned luxury suite right behind home plate!
What makes this story so remarkable is that as a young teenager, J was diagnosed with a mental disorder and was placed in an institution because his parents were unable to provide the specialized care he required. Throughout the years J became estranged from his family and spent his years living in group homes and was homeless for long periods of times, sleeping on the streets of Detroit, many times just outside of the baseball stadium. It wasn't until his sister D was going through her mother's items after her passing that she found paperwork about her brother J and his last known whereabouts. D set out on a crusade to find J and after two years of searching, she finally located him through a homeless shelter in Detroit. When she found J, he was malnourished, and was in grave condition. D had J hospitalized and evaluated. It was then they discovered his terminal diagnosis and he was subsequently admitted to XXX Hospice. J now lives with his sister in a peaceful, supportive environment.
When J was asked what was the best part of his Detroit Tigers experience he replied "seeing my sister D so happy!"
Thanks again Team and keep the request coming!!
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