Relationships can be tough. A physical separation can sometimes strain an otherwise solid connection. That’s not the case when it comes to the strong bond between the Toronto Argonauts and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.The facility, located in the Bayview/Eglinton area, combines research with world-class care.
Some 20 Argo players, along with their energetic general manager, visited the hospital on Monday, playing with several kids who know the facility’s gym all too well. It was the first time the Argos were able to visit since before the pandemic.
That separation didn’t hurt the relationship one bit.
“It’s an inspirational day,” quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson told Argonauts.ca. “They say they bring us here to inspire the kids, but they inspire me.”
The pandemic brought a halt to in-person visits to the hospital. This was the first time the facility opened its doors – and its arms – to a group to meet the kids face-to-face since then.
The Argos last visit was in 2019. Bethel-Thompson was a part of that group, but things have changed for him since then; in the interim he became a father for the first time. When asked how this year’s visit was different because of that, the QB paused for seven full seconds, looking to find the right words, tying to find a strong voice.
“Man, I didn’t think that (question) would make me emotional.”
It did. Another six seconds passed before he was able to continue.
“I could not imagine it,” was all he could muster before another lengthy pause. When he was able to compose himself, he found himself connecting with another group of people in the gym other than the patients.
“The kids get a lot of the focus, but it makes me sit back and think about what the parents are going through,” said the San Francisco native. “I’m sure that at any moment of any day they would take over and switch spots with them. It makes you so thankful and so appreciative of the situation you’re in; for the opportunity to bring a smile to their face. It humbles you.”
What it’s all about 💙 pic.twitter.com/2gMuf1rizK
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) September 26, 2022
One of those parents is Jennifer Voorn. Her son, seven-year-old Ethan Dacunha, has cerebral palsy and has been an inpatient at Holland Bloorview since early September. On Monday he was non-stop in two areas; energy and smiles. He was also able to beat Argo centre Justin Lawrence in a wheelchair race, much to his delight as well as all those who witnessed it.
Voorn was thrilled for what this day meant for Ethan.
“These guys are so awesome,” she told Argonauts.ca. “To be able to get out and do this and just hang out with the guys, big guys that he’s never met before and he knows are on the Argos. He just loves it.”
Ethan is a man of few words, but many big smiles. When asked about which part of the day was the most fun, he leaned forward and said “Everything!” He particularly loved playing catch with the players; his backwards, over the head snaps to Boris Bede may redefine long snapping technique. He also liked showing off by popping wheelies in his chair and loved racing and beating Lawrence. He said that made him feel “Happy, happy, happy!”
He also seemed to be having a blast when chasing General Manager Michael Clemons around the gym as “Pinball” would hide behind one or two players but would inevitably be found by Ethan.
It was not only a big day for the kids, parents and Argos, but for the hospital itself.
Spent some time at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital today 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9ZRsUWfe6N
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) September 26, 2022
Sandra Hawken is the President & CEO of the Holland Bloorview Foundation and was smiling as much as anyone in the room.
“It is an extraordinary day for our kids,” she said. “To have their football heroes come and not only lift their spirits but give them that extra bit of motivation and inspiration for what they’re going through right now as inpatients.”
There have been virtual interactions over the last several months, but nothing beats the personal relationships.
“Team visits, especially from the Argos, have been instrumental in terms of inspiration and mental health and the spirit lifting of our kids,” said Hawken. “During the last two-and-a-half years it’s been hard for everybody, but especially hard at a place like ours, where the kids can be in the hospital for months and months and even years at a time.”
That made the team’s visit perhaps even more special than in the past. The strongest indication of that would be the number of smiles on display from everyone involved.