May 13 Memories- You can put her on the board........Yes!!!

 


Two years ago on May 15, my family surprised me with a trip to a Sox game for my birthday.  It was a family Sunday.  It was Hannah and Audrey's first White Sox game.
I was all excited to be with my girls at their first Sox game.  

My first ever Sox game was a spring training game in Bradenton, Florida. Steve Lyons hit a foul ball, and Ron Kittle threw me the ball.  My dad, grandpa and great uncle took me to that game. Long story short, I was wearing his jersey at a Sox game 20 years later and he tapped me on the back and said he always buys the first guy he sees wearing his jersey a drink.  Now it was time for me to make memories with my girls and my dad.



 We took some cool pictures. We made our way up to first base side upper deck.  We got concessions and went to our seats.  Audrey sat down for like 2 pitches, then she was ready to move on.

Mandy and my mom took Hannah and Audrey to the FUNdamentals section.  The Sox started strong under Kopech, and then he lost his control.  The Sox were out of the game soon, and then the rain came.  Then came the rain.  I started wondering where the girls were.  I also started to feel guilty for Mandy and my mom watching the girls the whole time.  In the 7th inning, my mom texted me that they were in suite 460. I texted back- "How are you in a suite?"  And she texted back "Sensory Suite."

Turns out the Sox had the first sensory room in the MLB.  It was really helpful for Audrey, and kept her safe and happy during the game.  It was really interesting.  Audrey was just about to start ABA, and hadn't yet been introduced to the Superhero center.  This was a really cool revelation.  

The game got rained out and the Sox got blown out.  Hannah wasn't able to run the bases.  

Fast forward a year, Audrey flourished at ABA and the Superhero Center.  We turned a portion of our living room into a sensory gym for Audrey and many friends and family gave Audrey appropriate sensory toys for gifts over the years.

Last week, Mandy, knowing that we were planning to go to the Sox game, asked me if I could call and see if the Sox Sensory room would take a donation of some toys.  I got connected to the staff who was responsible for creating the Sox Sensory Room.  She told us how many other MLB stadiums have emulated the Sox room.  She said the room would love to accept our toys.

Hannah helped pick out some sensory toys of Audrey's to donate to the White Sox sensory room.  The Sox even asked if it was ok if they put a message up in memory of Audrey. You can put her on the board. Yes!
All of that meant a lot.  We actually knew what was on the scoreboard, because a kind coworker messaged me the Saturday Night before wondering if I was at the game because the Sox ended up putting Audrey's memorial up on the scoreboard all weekend.  We later found out that my cousin was at the game too.  It was such a fitting way to feel Audrey with us.  

After the game, we got to meet AJ, the staff member responsible for the sensory room.
We came down to the field.  Hannah was able to finally run the bases.  The scoreboard may not have exploded on that day, but there sure was a home run.

To say that the Sox have had a disappointing season is an understatement.  But I have never been prouder to be a Sox fan.

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