CHICAGO — He’s the Chicago Cub who goes to bat for sick kids.
He says he doesn’t do it for the recognition, still Patrick Wisdom is being recognized for his big heart and the kindness he shows kids fighting cancer.
Long before he set foot in a major field ballpark, Wisdom drew inspiration from kids fighting cancer. It started with Braxton, a patient he met while playing in Memphis in 2018.
“Just seeing the smile on his face when he was out here on the ballfield, being away from the treatment, being away from the hospital, having a moment of peace and happiness if you will,” he said. “And to be able to provide that, it’s kinds hard to describe what that feels like.”
That wisdom stuck with him over the years. Sometimes it’s the small things — even in the big leagues – that matter most.
Misheel, 12, makes regular trips from her home in Chicago to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. She was diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago.
Recently, she went to her first baseball game.
“I’m feeling very good now … I’m in remission,” she said. “I got six rounds of chemotherapy and six rounds of radiation.”
She passed the time making balloon animals.
“When I’m at the hospital I give them out to kids to parents to the workers as well,” she said.
She was able to show Wisdom her handiwork.
“You’re like the superhero in the hospital, huh?” he told her.
“For someone who is 11-years-old, to go through so much already in life, but have such a positive and joyous outlook is truly remarkable and admirable,” he said. “Her smile is so contagious. You could see it from a mile away. When they were coming down the grandstand you could see it.”
He carries Misheel’s outlook – and her artwork – with him on the field. She decorated his cleats.
“I put ‘brave,’ ‘helpful,’ ‘kind’ and words like that, and I also put on the inside ‘superhero,’” she said.
Misheel, which means “smile” in Mongolian, says she’s grateful for the work Wisdom is doing off the field.
“If they didn’t help me or them, they wouldn’t be here standing,” she said.
The perspective has kept Wisdom grounded throughout his career.
“You can see the smile on their face and you know what it does for them,” he said. “And having kids myself, it’s changed the perspective on why I want to continue to spread awareness for it. Because all we want to do is see our kids happy and smile. So anything you can do to do that, you’re going to do it.”
For all he’s done, the Cubs organization nominated Wisdom for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award, which honors a player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship and community.
“I’m super grateful for it,” he said. “I’m at a loss for words as you can see. But I’m just so thankful. But also very excited to spread the word and let people know what’s going on.”
Misheel couldn’t agree more.
“Makes me feel very happy,” she said. “I’m very grateful.”
The Roberto Clemente Award winner will be announced during the 2024 World Series. And fans can vote here .
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