Philadelphia Phillies' Edmundo Sosa surprises cerebral palsy patient from Panama before game
Dylan Morales, 9, is still feeling the love at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, New Jersey, the day after meeting his hero, Phillies infielder Edmundo Sosa, a fellow Panamanian.
Morales, who is being treated for cerebral palsy, was surprised by Sosa before Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers, and he got lots of Phillies swag, including a signed jersey.
Morales' young life has been filled with challenges and heartbreak as he struggled with the neurological disorder, and then a year ago, his father was killed in a car crash
"It's very difficult," Morales' mother, Anna, said.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Panama arranged for Dylan Morales and his mom to come to Philadelphia for him to have leg surgery at Shriners Hospital.
"This country is wonderful for my family," Anna Morales said. "Everyone has been so wonderful to see, and it's nice.
Anna Morales said she says she's been filled with gratitude during the visit, thanks to the hospitality of the RMHC, along with the medical expertise at Shriners. And, of course, the unimaginable visit to the Phillies game.
"Its good, very good," she said. "Dylan and me [are] very happy."
The meeting came together with the help of the Consulate's Office from Panama and a Facebook group.
"The community really stepped up," Tamara Balbanan, of the Consulate's Office from Panama, said.
"I'm just really happy for them," she added. "I know they've been through a lot. She's a great person, and Dylan is amazing. They deserve this."
After the surgery, Dylan Morales was in a wheelchair, and with approval from his doctors, he was happy to give it up.
The Phillies now have a new forever fan.
Dylan Morales and his mom are expecting to go back to Panama at the end of the month. They say the Phillies and the city will always have a special place in their hearts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jen Pawol will be MLB's first female umpire. Here are other women who broke officiating barriers
This weekend, Jen Pawol will make history by becoming the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. She's set to work the series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. The 48-year-old from New Jersey has worked spring training games over the last two years and in the minors since 2016. Here's a look at other female officials who were the first on the floor, court or the field in prominent men's leagues. NFL Shannon Eastin became the first female official in NFL history when she was a line judge during a preseason game in August 2012 between the Green Bay Packers and the Chargers, who were then in San Diego. A month later, she became the first woman to be an official in an NFL regular-season game when she worked as the line judge in the Rams-Lions game. Eastin was among the replacement officials hired by the league during a lockout of the regular officials. The first woman to get a full-season job was Sarah Thomas, who was a line judge in 2015. Thomas also became the first woman to work a Super Bowl when she was part of the seven-person crew on Feb. 7, 2021, when Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9. Thomas was already the first woman to officiate a major college football game — and to work a bowl game. NBA Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner were hired by the National Basketball Association for the 1997 season. Palmer made her NBA debut on Oct. 31, 1997, when she was on the floor for the season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. Palmer worked that night with Bill Oakes and Mark Wunderlich. Kantner's first game was Nov. 5, 1997, when Atlanta beat Philadelphia 93-88. Kantner worked alongside Ron Garretson and Ed Middleton. Palmer retired in 2016, and Kantner is still officiating women's NCAA basketball. NHL The NHL has yet to have a female on-ice official for a regular season or Stanley Cup playoff game. In the mid-1990s, Heather McDaniel received some national attention for officiating men's minor league games for the Central Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League. Two decades later, the NHL selected four female officials to work on the ice at the 2019 prospect tournaments. Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke served as referees, while Kirsten Welsh and Kendall Hanley worked as linesmen. It marked the first time women have officiated at the pre-training camp prospects tournament level. There was a subtle change made before the 2023-24 season when 'linesmen' became 'linespersons,' with women in the American Hockey League working their way up. Men's World Cup French referee Stéphanie Frappart made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman to be in charge of a men's World Cup match. The game between Germany at Costa Rica was held in Al Khor, Qatar. Working the game with Frappart were two female assistants — Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico. Men's NCAA tournament Melanie Davis was the first woman to officiate a Division I NCAA men's tournament game when she was on the floor for a first-round matchup between San Diego State and Illinois on March 15, 2002. Leading into the historical game, Davis had officiated men's contests in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Harrison Bader's first home run as a Phillie gives the Phillies the lead!
A perfect time for your first home run as a Phillie! Harrison Bader's three-run home run breaks the 3-3 tie in the sixth! Harrison Bader's first home run as a Phillie gives the Phillies the lead! originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Associated Press
35 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Jen Pawol will be MLB's first female umpire. Here are other women who broke officiating barriers
This weekend, Jen Pawol will make history by becoming the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. She's set to work the series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. The 48-year-old from New Jersey has worked spring training games over the last two years and in the minors since 2016. Here's a look at other female officials who were the first on the floor, court or the field in prominent men's leagues. NFL Shannon Eastin became the first female official in NFL history when she was a line judge during a preseason game in August 2012 between the Green Bay Packers and the Chargers, who were then in San Diego. A month later, she became the first woman to be an official in an NFL regular-season game when she worked as the line judge in the Rams-Lions game. Eastin was among the replacement officials hired by the league during a lockout of the regular officials. The first woman to get a full-season job was Sarah Thomas, who was a line judge in 2015. Thomas also became the first woman to work a Super Bowl when she was part of the seven-person crew on Feb. 7, 2021, when Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9. Thomas was already the first woman to officiate a major college football game — and to work a bowl game. NBA Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner were hired by the National Basketball Association for the 1997 season. Palmer made her NBA debut on Oct. 31, 1997, when she was on the floor for the season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. Palmer worked that night with Bill Oakes and Mark Wunderlich. Kantner's first game was Nov. 5, 1997, when Atlanta beat Philadelphia 93-88. Kantner worked alongside Ron Garretson and Ed Middleton. Palmer retired in 2016, and Kantner is still officiating women's NCAA basketball. NHL The NHL has yet to have a female on-ice official for a regular season or Stanley Cup playoff game. In the mid-1990s, Heather McDaniel received some national attention for officiating men's minor league games for the Central Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League. Two decades later, the NHL selected four female officials to work on the ice at the 2019 prospect tournaments. Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke served as referees, while Kirsten Welsh and Kendall Hanley worked as linesmen. It marked the first time women have officiated at the pre-training camp prospects tournament level. There was a subtle change made before the 2023-24 season when 'linesmen' became 'linespersons,' with women in the American Hockey League working their way up. Men's World Cup French referee Stéphanie Frappart made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman to be in charge of a men's World Cup match. The game between Germany at Costa Rica was held in Al Khor, Qatar. Working the game with Frappart were two female assistants — Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz Medina of Mexico. Men's NCAA tournament Melanie Davis was the first woman to officiate a Division I NCAA men's tournament game when she was on the floor for a first-round matchup between San Diego State and Illinois on March 15, 2002. Leading into the historical game, Davis had officiated men's contests in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. ___ AP MLB:
