really great about our partnership with the athletic department."
John Flad, chair of the American Family Children's
Hospital board, refers to the visit from the UW Football players as nothing short of miraculous.
"At the American Family Children's Hospital we're
fond of saying that 'miracles happen every day,' and
that is not cliché," Flad said. "We're referring, of
course, to the great work the doctors, nurses and
staff do with our critically-ill kids. But there is another miracle that happens at the children's hospital every Friday before Badger football home games.
That's the day the Badgers come and visit our kids.
The visits from the Badgers truly lifts their spirits
and puts a welcome smile on their faces.
"Candidly, it's just what the doctor ordered."
The football team is not the only UW program
that visits the hospital; it's a department-wide affair. Last year, 14 different teams visited the hospital
a total of 34 times.
"I definitely cherish being able to help the community and kids in any way possible," said men's
basketball player Duje Dukan. "But to be able to go
to the children's hospital and see some kids smile
simply because we stopped by was an indescribable
"THEY MAKE THE CHILDREN FEEL SPECIAL
AND THAT LASTS SO MUCH LONGER THAN
THE ACTUAL VISIT" AHOLA SAID. "IT'S AN
EXCITING, POSITIVE THING THAT REALLY
HELPS TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF HEALING
AND WELL-BEING FOR THE KIDS."
feeling."
Nurse manager Laura Ahola can see the impact of
the student-athlete visits on her patients long after
the group has returned to the stadium.
"They make the children feel special and that
lasts so much longer than the actual visit," Ahola
said. "When I go into patients' rooms they'll say,
`Did you see my picture?', `Did you see that so-andso was here and they signed my shirt?' It's an exciting, positive thing that really helps to promote a
sense of healing and well-being for the kids."
