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Bulls Bring Off-Field Smiles to Sick Children

"Real football players?" he yelped, forgetting the Mickey Mouse cartoon he had been watching.

He touched his bandaged forehead in amazed wonder as almost a dozen UB football players gathered around his tiny bed with radiant greetings.

Suddenly, it was as if the four mint-green walls of his hospital room fell away to reveal better times in André's life. They talked of exciting football tackles and who would win the Super Bowl, and André remembered he had a reason to keep smiling.

A visit to the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo on the Friday before every home game by the Bulls keeps many of these sick children smiling. Junior tight end Chad Upshaw said the visits provide him with perspective.

"When we think we're down in the dumps or we got off to a rocky start, or if someone's just feeling sorry for himself, we come here and realize that there are people who have more serious problems than a football team," Upshaw said. "It's kind of a reality check."

The reality for a child who has spent days, months or even years in a hospital is different than that of a normal, healthy child. Sometimes these friendly visits are all they have to keep them connected to the world outside of the hospital.

"The kids love when visitors come. It brightens up their day," said Child Life intern Caryn Domzalski. "It's really good for them to see different people because some of them are stuck here for a while. It's something for them to look forward to."

As the young fans watch television and play board games trying to pass the time, they are always happily surprised when their jersey-wearing visitors come in with teddy bears.

During last Friday's visit, one of the players reached down to a tiny little girl and told her the bear was looking for a home and had chosen to live with her. The little girl began jumping up and down with excitement as she tightly squeezed her stuffed companion.

When the UB players arrive at the infant and toddler floor, there is hardly a room without a child hugging a new fuzzy friend.

One young lad said he wanted to be a football player after spending a few minutes chatting with the team. His father, Neil Kavanaugh, said he thinks the Bulls are doing a great thing for the young generations.

"It's a real bright spot for the little guys," Kavanaugh said. "When they have other issues going on, it certainly diverts their attention and brings a smile to their faces. And a teddy bear is certainly the best touch ever."

Another little boy made a game out of the Bulls' visit, rolling around on the hallway floor and covering himself with a Scooby-Doo blanket.

"Where'd he disappear to?" joked the team. "I guess there's no one here."

A Flintstone's diaper peeked out from under the blanket and a little boy's laughter joyfully filled the hallway as he continued his hide-and-seek.

"The most touching thing is when you hear the children laughing and see them smiling," said senior defensive lineman Kirk Berry. "When we watch television with them and play video games with them, things like that make you really appreciate life."

Later that afternoon, on the hematology floor, 5-year-old Hannah Donovan was laying in her a bed full of stuffed animals, including her new teddy bear. As the Bulls players greeted her, she showed her appreciation by giving each of them a playful noogie.

"We're going through a rough time right now," said Jennifer Donovan, Hannah's mother. "She's getting chemo and everything, and this was really the first time we've seen her smile today."

Assistant coach Allen Mogridge said the team really enjoys being a part of the community and that none of their volunteer work is mandatory. Mogridge added that the team takes a sense of humility and pride away from being the light in what can be a dreary environment.

"Until you walk in and out of there, until you go in there and walk those halls, you won't understand it," Mogridge said. "A real football player means so much more to those kids. This is how the kids see you. It's not just what they've heard about or seen on TV. It's 'Here comes the big football player.' It's seeing those kids smile. That's what makes the guys really appreciate what they get to do."

By the time the Bulls had visited almost every child on the two floors, they had given away a total of 48 teddy bears, which were provided by the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company.