Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville brought the Stanley Cup to Children’s Memorial Hospital yesterday to help cheer sick children:
↵↵↵“The toughness and grit required by the Blackhawks to win that Cup is what many of our kids go through every day,” said Kathleen Keenan, a hospital spokeswoman. “This was just so inspiring. It shows miracles do happen.”
↵It all began with Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville’s desire to bring the Stanley Cup to children maneuvering through life in wheelchairs and IV lines. So he asked orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mike Terry, the chief Blackhawks doc, to help arrange the hospital visit.
↵At 10 a.m., Quenneville, with the Stanley Cup in hand, strolled into the hospital, sailed past startled gawkers in the corridors and waited behind a curtain while the little patients were summoned by resident storyteller Dot Kane, decked out in a Blackhawks jersey. Kane chirped to the children: “I have a surprise for you.” Then the Blackhawks anthem played, the curtain rose, confetti was dispensed — and the Cup appeared!
↵Among children who touched the silver punch bowl was Ella Hafenrichter, 9, the hospital’s 1,001st transplant patient when she received a new kidney. Ben Farmer, 7, of Gages Lake, who also underwent kidney surgery, touched the Cup and stated: “It was awesome to see, ’cause I saw it on TV!”
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Nice touch, Coach Q. Good for you, and a wonderful day for the kids at Children’s.