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A Very Special, Loving 'First Pitch'
CHICAGO, IL (July 21, 2004) - It was a very special "first pitch" that was
thrown at Wrigley Park Monday evening as the Chicago Cubs faced the St.
Louis Cardinals during an evening sponsored by Swedish Covenant Hospital
(SCH) in Chicago, operated by Covenant Ministries of Benevolence of the
Evangelical Covenant Church.
More than 40,000 fans jammed the historic field as Deborah McKenna of
Oak Park stepped onto the field to throw the ceremonial pitch to honor
her late brother, Bernie, a long-time Cubs fan who died last November
following a lengthy illness. McKenna was selected for the honor from a
pool of more than 700 individuals who submitted essays as part of "The
Heart of a Cubs Fan" contest that is part of the hospital sponsorship.
Her winning entry was selected by a panel of judges including Billy
Williams, former Chicago Cub and current special assistant to the
president of the team; Mary Ann Childers, anchor/medical editor for CBS
2-Chicago; Sylvia Perez, news anchor and reporter for ABC 7-Chicago;
Peggy Kusinski, sports reporter for NBC 5-Chicago; Eric Zorn, columnist
for the Chicago Tribune; Mark Newton, SCH president and CEO;
David Putman, chairperson of the SCH Board of Directors; and Dr. Ronald
Curran, cardiothoracic surgeon and member of the SCH medical staff.
Following is the winning essay, which provides heart-warming insight
into one individual's courage in the face of terminal illness.
By Deborah McKenna
I would love to throw out the first ball at Wrigley Field for my
brother, Bernie, one of the Chicago Cubs' greatest fans. He died last
November after a tough battle with ALS, but he spent his last summer
enjoying one of the most exciting Cubs seasons of his life.
My brother struggled to perform the simple day-to-day tasks we all take
for granted. He became homebound because of the limitations ALS forced
upon him, and his sole form of communication was through his computer.
But being able to watch the Cubs brought much happiness and anticipation
to his days and nights. The games were an oasis of sorts - an escape to
Wrigley, the cheering crowds, great pitching, power hitting and
priceless renditions of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."
As the season progressed and the Cubs kept winning, Bernie would give
them standing ovations from his wheelchair, Cubs cap on his head, a
smile on his face. The Cubs gave us something special to share in the
midst of pain, frustration and sadness. I will be forever grateful that
we had a Cubs championship season to help us through.
I am a bit melancholy as I travel through this season, without Bernie,
typing out amusing commentaries, citing statistics, remembering earlier
Cub teams. So, 2003 will forever be the Cubs season I remember as the
greatest season ever with Bernie.
I'd love to throw out that ball for my brother. I know he'd be watching,
still smiling.
(Editor's note: the essay is especially fitting as Swedish Covenant
uses its Cubs sponsorship this year to broaden the reach of its
promotional mission statement that is becoming increasingly familiar in
this nation's third largest city: "Technology Changes . . . Compassion
Does Not.")
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
