Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe and shortstop Zach Neto visited pediatric patients and their families at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach to play games, give gifts, and raise spirits. To their delight, the Child Life Team at Miller Children’s & Women’s surprised the players by presenting the Los Angeles Angels with the Honorary Friend of Child Life Award; a special annual recognition presented to individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional dedication to enhancing the lives of hospitalized children.
“We are thrilled to present Angels Baseball with this annual Friend of Child Life award,” says Rita Goshert, director, Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, Miller Children’s & Women’s. “Their visits consistently bring immense joy and comfort to our young patients, making a lasting positive impact on their hospital experience.”
Afterward, the players made their way around the various units at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital surprising kids in the playrooms and at their bedsides. O’Hoppe and Neto spent time with patients and families, giving them autographed baseball hats, baseball jerseys and plush Angels rally monkeys while talking with them, and helping the patients feel more comfortable.
During the visit, O'Hoppe and Neto encouraged the patients they met, reassuring them on how strong they were while undergoing treatment, O'Hoppe and Neto even joined a group of patients in a game of Go Fish in the playroom. Neto and 17-year-old Evelyn were neck and neck and had to go into "extra inners" with a spirited game of rock-paper-scissors, where Evelyn eventually won.
"It was inspiring to visit the patients today," said Neto. "It was amazing to spend time with so many of them and to be able to brighten up their day. I really enjoyed hanging out and playing Go Fish with the kids in the playroom. Evelyn really brought out her A-game today – it was a real highlight for me."
The Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach coordinates special events to help make the hospital experience more positive for children. Child life specialists go out of their way to help patients and families cope with hospitalization in every area of the hospital from General Pediatrics to the Emergency Department.
Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach is the official children's hospital of Angels Baseball, helping make these patient visits and future ones possible.
“It is always an incredible feeling to come by and surprise the kids,” said O’Hoppe, who is also an official player partner of Miller Children’s & Women’s. “Seeing their smiles and excitement made the whole visit unforgettable.”
