Hershey, Pa. – The Penn State football team returned to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon for an in-person surprise visit with patients and staff. The annual tradition began in 2014, but was curtailed in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While efforts were made the last few years to virtually connect with those undergoing treatment and care within the children's hospital, it was a welcome return of face-to-face interaction for head coach James Franklin.
"It's great to be back," Franklin said. "We did this for eight years and then COVID hit. Getting back here it brings back great memories. It's really good to hear some of the stories of the doctors and nurses that have been here a long time."
Four busses carrying student-athletes and staff made the roughly 100-mile trek from Happy Valley to Hershey following a morning of workouts and classes. After unloading in Hershey, players were divided into different groups to visit areas of the hospital. A majority of the student-athletes spent the afternoon interacting and playing games with patients in the Tree House room in the children's hospital. However, some had an opportunity to meet with patients and their families individually, ranging from newborns to 101-year-olds.
"It was great getting them in a room one-on-one," said redshirt senior defensive tackle Dvon Ellies. "We got to learn more about them as opposed to in a group setting. It was a great experience."
"I gave a signed football to a little kid in the post-op room," redshirt sophomore linebacker Dominic DeLuca said. "His jaw dropped as soon as we gave it to him. He was speechless. Just to make his day, just like that, it was a great feeling."
A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was perspective. Several student-athletes commented on how fortunate they feel to play football as apart of their college experience after meeting with those enduring difficult times. It is a lesson Franklin hopes many carry with them.
"They're here and realize that people are having some real challenges and issues that they're having to work through," Franklin commented.
"You understand that you have your problems or your issues, whatever you're going through," Ellies added. "It put things in a lens that you understand things aren't so bad and there are harder battles out there and to appreciate everything that you have."
It also gave patients and their families a chance to forget about the daily struggle that's ongoing.
"They're understanding that their time can go a long way in people's lives," Franklin said.
"It's awesome to turn all these frowns upside down for all these little kids," remarked DeLuca. "Just to make their day better is an unbelievable feeling."
Patients and their families collected autographed footballs and posters and posed for pictures with the team members throughout the afternoon. At the end of the event, everyone crammed into one final group picture to commemorate an unforgettable afternoon.
"Everybody is connected," proclaimed redshirt senior defensive end Adisa Isaac. "We are all one. We are all one big family. I feel like we need to keep it that way. That's why seeing all these young guys interact with people in the hospital, it's very wholesome."
