The Dynamic Duo

Isn’t it every young boy’s dream to run the bases at a real life ballpark? Well, the Emmanuel boys, ages 14 and 6, got to do just that. Celebrating their Home Run for Life at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium, the boys rounded the bases with both teams, and the entire stadium, cheering them on.

Celebrating their Home Run for Life at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium, the boys rounded the bases with both teams, and the entire stadium, cheering them on. The brothers have been treated at Memorial Children’s Hospital for nearly their entire lives. They were both born with a variation of Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited form of anemia.

The oldest son has been coming to Memorial Children’s Hospital since he was born and returns every four to six weeks for blood transfusions to keep him healthy and active. The younger Emmanuel has to be hospitalized only when his immune system, which is weakened by his condition, can’t fight off an infection.

When this happens, he and his family know that they have a compassionate, dedicated staff who will help him get back on his feet. “The staff here is like my second family,” the boys’ mother Latonya added during their most recent trip to the hospital. “If it weren’t for the people here at Memorial Children’s Hospital, I truly don’t know what I’d do.”