Results tagged ‘ University Hospital ’
Manny Acta: “Everything’s going to be okay. Stay positive.”
Indians manager Manny Acta took his coaching off the field and paid a visit to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in downtown Cleveland on Friday.
Acta visited with nearly 20 sick children at the hospital, greeting each child individually and chatting for several minutes.
Acta spent time discussing each child’s softball and baseball careers, encouraging them to continue working hard at the sport. Dressed in his Indians jersey, he covered topics from coloring with crayons to fashion with these children, who provided everyone in the room with a fresh perspective on life.
One particular little girl ran out of her room once she heard the news early Friday morning.
“There is a special visitor who came to see you outside in the hallway,” one nurse told her.
The little girl recognized Acta immediately and beamed when Acta commented, “I love your footies.”
A teenage boy, who rarely steps out of the room for visitors, came out of his room without hesitation after the nurse told him Acta was present.
Each patient on the floor received an Indians bag with goodies, including a baseball and — the highlight for most kids — a foam Indians finger for pencils and pens.
Acta offered to sign all jerseys, hats, bags, and stationary for the kids and their families, even suggesting that they bring an autograph home to their siblings.
Before leaving the hospital, Acta pulled each child aside and, like a Major League Baseball manager would, coached them and assured them that everything was okay.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he said to one young girl.
She replied, “I know, I am trying to get better.”
Acta, shaking his head at her, said, “Don’t try; just trust me that everything is going to be okay. Stay positive.”
-Megan Golden, TribeVibe contributor
