Angels Baseball Players Hit a Home Run at Hospital

Los Angeles Angels pitchers Ben Joyce and Sam Bachman visited patients and their families in playrooms and at bedside at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach to play games, give gifts, and raise spirits.

Layani, a pediatric rehab patient, was not only happy to see the players, but was excited to celebrate her birthday with them. The players came in to her room singing “Happy Birthday” with the Music Therapy Program team, holding up a birthday sign and giving her wrapped gifts and Angels gear for her special day.

“Being able to throw a birthday party for Layani while she was hospitalized was truly a special experience,” said Angels pitcher, Sam Bachman. “You can tell how powerful this moment was for her and her family.”

Joyce and Bachman continued to make their way around Miller Children’s & Women’s, spending time with patients and families and giving them autographed baseball hats, soft baseballs, and plush Angels Rally Monkeys. For a few patients, the Angels players came with members of the Music Therapy Program to sing the classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and get them ready for game day.

“It feels great to be able to bring a smile to these patients and their families,” said Angels pitcher, Ben Joyce. “It was also nice to visit with the nurses and doctors in the hospital since they take such amazing care of these patients.”

The Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach coordinates special events to help make the hospital experience more positive for children. Child life specialists help patients and families cope with hospitalization in every area of the hospital from General Pediatrics to the Emergency Department.

“Special visitors like the Angels baseball players have such an amazing impact on our patients and families,” says Rita Goshert, director, Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, Miller Children’s & Women’s. “These visits bring joy to our patients and boost the morale of their parents and families while their children are hospitalized.”

MemorialCare is the Official Healthcare Partner of Angels Baseball, helping make this patient visit and future visits possible. MemorialCare has been partnering with Angels Baseball since 2019 to promote healthy lifestyles for Southern California fans.

Submitted by MemorialCare