Cancer patient Lucas Fredericks, 5, looks up at West Michigan Whitecaps player Gabe Hemmer outside his room on the ninth floor of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

 

When 5-year-old Lucas Fredericks heard that Whitecaps players would be making a stop to see him, he hopped out of his hospital bed.

Then he sought a wardrobe change. The Grand Ledge, Michigan, boy is battling cancer at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and wanted to look his best for the star players he’d soon meet.

“Baseball players don’t want to see anybody without pants,” he exclaimed before grabbing some khakis and wheeling his IV pole out into the ninth-floor hallway to say hi to the players.

Lucas looked up in awe at the Whitecaps players and chatted about his recent birthday bowling party where he got a chocolate helicopter cake plus a strawberry-flavored airplane cake.

“I got a lot of presents, but I don’t remember how many,” the animated little boy said. “Just a lot.”

The players cruised the halls of the children’s hospital Tuesday afternoon, giving away tickets to an upcoming game, shooting hoops with a few patients, and answering questions from others.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital patient Ryan Cowgill, 12, shoots hoops with West Michigan Whitecaps player Francisco Contreras Tuesday, May 12, 2015. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Ryan Cowgill, 12, shoots hoops with West Michigan Whitecaps player Francisco Contreras. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

Pitcher Gabe Hemmer proved to be a particularly popular player with the kids, engaging them in conversation about everything from Bugs Bunny to the NBA finals.

Ryan Cowgill, 12, pushed back his MRI scan just so he could meet the players. He has a brain tumor and will be at the hospital for another two or three weeks for surgery and recovery.

The Lawton, Michigan, boy loves all sports and plays football in school although, he noted, he played baseball when he was younger. He and the Whitecaps tried to get the best score in a basketball game and then they played Uno for as long as he could.

“I have five minutes to play until the MRI,” he said with complete concentration on the cards in front of him.

Ryan’s mom, Carry Keen, said this is the most fun he’s had all week, and his stepdad, Wayne Avery, praised the hospital for having special events like the baseball player meet-and-greet for the kids.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital patient Sam Ohlendorf show the game tickets he got from West Michigan Whitecaps players Austin Schotts, center, and Gabe Hemmer Tuesday, May 12, 2015. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)
Sam Ohlendorf shows the game tickets he got from West Michigan Whitecaps players Austin Schotts, center, and Gabe Hemmer. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

“If we are busy being distracted by fun—like visits from the Whitecaps—it’s easier to get through the day,” he said.

Nine-year-old Samuel Ohlendorf also was on schedule to get an MRI later in the afternoon so the players gave him free tickets to a game as an added incentive to stay really still so the doctors’ photos would be better. They encouraged him to come to the game and get more photos with players.

“My favorite baseball team is the Tigers,” the Grand Haven, Michigan, boy confided in the duo. “Miguel Cabrera is my favorite player. He has a big bat!”