Thanks to the generosity of the Honorary Captains Club and Towson University Athletics, six critically ill children and their families enjoyed a special football experience.
The children hung out on the field with Towson's mascot and cheerleaders, watched warm up practice, met players, and got autographs. Afterwards, the kids lined up in the tunnel to cheer on players as they ran onto the field. The families watched the Towson Tigers beat the Rhode Island Rams in a private terrace before walking onto the field during halftime and were highlighted on the jumbotron.
Founded in 2023, the Towson University Honorary Captains Club is a group of TU student-athletes who want to give the unforgettable experience of TU athletic culture and environment to those who are not able to be a part of the team. They are partnering with the Casey Cares Foundation to provide critically ill kids with a Tiger experience they hope the kids will never forget on campus.
Keng is a 5-year-old who suffers from severe asthma. He is currently playing soccer and his family is looking to add basketball to the schedule. He has three older brothers and, according to his parents, “[he] is a very active and smart little guy. He does very well in school and loves to learn.”
Tristan attended with his family. His mother Tekeya noted, "When Tristan was 4 years old, he became very sick. After taking him to the hospital his dad and I learned that Tristan had Type 1 diabetes. From that point, things became very hard for us to adjust to. We begin to get him all the right care and equipment to help with controlling his diabetes."
"Tristan now has the Dexcom G6 and the TSlim insulin pump. Things were going pretty good until January 2023 when Tristan's equipment had an issue. That issue that caused him to be hospitalized was for DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) which sent him into kidney failure," she continues.
Tekeya concludes, "The doctors were able to revise the kidney failure and get Tristan feeling much better. Since then, Tristan hasn’t had any issues and his sugars are under control. Tristan is such a happy kid; he’s learning a lot about himself and what diabetes is and how it affects the body. Now at the age of 10, Tristan knows when to put his numbers in his insulin pump and what he can and can’t have."
Xavier was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which is a rare illness that causes abnormal fluid buildup in the brain. Xavier’s doctors describe him as a miracle baby, having survived a traumatic brain injury at birth that took four months to uncover.
Davida says caring for Xavier is very busy and needs special care, with numerous therapies for his development and specialty visits for tests, such as MRI’s, EKG’s, X-rays, and additional exams.
As a mother of two children and with Xavier’s father in the military, Davida has had to learn how to be effective with time management. One of the biggest challenges Xavier’s family faces is fitting it all in. With Xavier’s medical appointments on top of caring for her 11-year-old daughter, Amber-Marie who is active in her middle school where she sings, dances and is currently a star in the school play.
“We schedule our life’s activities and our days around Xavier’s healthcare. It’s difficult, but having a routine is key,” says Davida.
Mason has a form of liver and is currently doing well according to his doctors. Mason loves being a big brother to Grayson, and he enjoys playing video games with his big brother.
Samara is diagnosed with chromosomal abnormality and molo porencephaly ventricular septal defect. She and her family loved going to activities like a trip to the Maryland Zoo.
Thank you to Honorary Captains Club and Towson University Athletics! Want to learn all the different ways you or your organization can support our kids? Find out here!