A Tragedy That No Parent Wants to Deal With

I write this post with a heavy heart. Not because I am any way related or know this family but because it hurts my Mommy heart.

Sunday, August 2nd the world lost a little boy due to an accident at a baseball game in Wichita Kansas during the National Baseball Congress World Series. He was struck accidentally on the head on Saturday during a game by a practice swing while he was retrieving a bat. He was rushed to the hospital where he fought for his life. 

He was 9 years old with freckles and glasses. From all the media and post I have seen he had a personality that drew you to him. He made you smile and laugh. He absolutely loved life and everything it had to offer. He loved being the bat boy for the Liberal Bee Jays. 

Photo from KWCH Channel 12 

I live only an hour away from Wichita so this story is one I see quite often. I am saddened for his parents and family. I could not imagine the pain they are going through knowing that their son is gone. I cannot imagine how lost they feel. I had watched the news on Monday evening where his father had spoke during a press conference the team was having. I seriously had tears in my eyes. The pain in his eyes were almost too much to handle. I know parents always believe we should go before our children do so this has to be the hardest thing to cope with. His father showed great courage to get up there and speak in front of all those people. I know that I could not have done that if it was one of my kids. I pray that I don't have to find out if I could.

I don't have any wise words on how it will get better. I honestly don't believe this is something that gets better. I just think you get used to the pain. I think that you learn to live without them because you have to for all those around you. I think you lose a part of you that you may gain back but it will never be the same. I also believe that people can make things happen for the better of the world because of tragedies.   

My heart goes out to the man who hit him. He is probably hurting more than anyone knows. I know it was an accident and he was just doing a task he had done a million times before. I am sure he never thought that he would hurt anyone. I hope that he is not blaming himself for everything. 

Because of what happened the National Baseball Congress has now changed their rules. Bat boys now have to be at least 18 years of age. I think it is probably a change that needed to occur. I also think that this could happen to anyone no matter their age. The NBC and the Liberal Bee Jays have done amazing things for this family. The World Series has placed his initials on the scoreboard to remember him by. The team have changed their uniforms to a t-shirt with their numbers on the back. The shirt is really the Kansas City Royals shirt but it is perfect. It has the little boys initials with a heart.

I will pray for his family and friends as well as the man who was swinging the bat. I ask you all to do the same. I have held my children a little closer each night this week because life is too short. You never know what could happen to you or your loved ones.

If you would like to help the family, you can donate here.

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