There once was a little boy named Casey who had rheumatic fever and it left him with a defect (that means a little hole) in is heart. As a result he had to spend many long hours in bed with just very little movement. His brothers and sisters all tried to play games with him that did not take any exertion. But when they went outside to play ball or tag all he could do was watch and wish that he could just go out too. He remembered how the air used to seem so fresh before he got sick but now he could not take a chance on catching a cold. It seemed like he was forever taking medicine, He stopped asking what it was for because he didn't understand after it was explained to him. He only knew it tasted terrible and some of the pills seemed like they were as big as horse pills.One day his sister Angela heard him crying softly and went to investigate as if she didn't already suspected he was lonely. There was one thing that he really loved to watch on TV and that was the Boston Red Sox, he would give anything to be able to go to a game. But that was out of the question so he tried to be content to watch the tube. When Angela heard him crying she went in and they had a long talk about what he wanted for his birthday, which was right around the corner. He told her the one thing in the world that he would really want was to meet Johnny Diamond (of course a red sox player) little did he know but Johnny had just switched teams and was now a Yankee. Their father worked for the TV station as light man, someone who keeps the lights just right so all the reporters look good. His best friend was a sports reporter, Mr. Fox. When Angela went to the station to see her Dad she told him what Casey's wish was for his birthday. She noticed that all of a sudden her father became very quiet and kind of sad looking. She asked him "Why Daddy are you sad?" Her father explained that the doctor had called and Casey was so sick they did not know if he would even see his birthday. On the way home Angela pondered what the doctor had told her parents she stopped in the church to see the Pastor. She had a long talk with him and then went in to pray. "Dear Jesus, I know you are there and you love everybody, my little brother needs some special love, could you please have your Dad make him well.” She felt much better after visiting the Lord and just knew that things would work out but she was still going to try and get Johnny Diamond to meet her brother Casey. When she went home she wrote a long letter to Mr. Stonebrenner (owner of the Yankees) When she mailed it she said a little prayer that it would reach the right hands. It was nearly Casey's birthday and she had heard no word regarding her letter. On the evening before his birthday there came a knock at the door. There stood Johnny Diamond with a big present in his arms. Angela could hardly believe her eyes and her ears when she heard him proclaim,"Is this the home of a young man named Casey?" I understand that he would like to meet Johnny Diamond the Red sox player?" She stuttered a Yes and the led him in to see Casey. She left them alone as requested. When the door opened there stood Johnny with Casey in his arms and her brother was dressed in a Red Sox uniform. Johnny explained that he may have switched teams but in his heart he was still a Massachusetts man, who had brought a friend with him. He motioned to the man in the limousine and a very distinguished gentleman got out. It seems that he was a specialist who had come to see Casey at Johnny's request. He was a cardiac pediatrician from Massachusetts General Hospital. It wasn't long before this man had Casey well enough to go outside, of course with caution. He had put Casey on a whole different group of medications and his friend who was a surgeon was able to fix the hole in his heart. The following year Casey was even able to go to the Yankee baseball game but he still wore his red sox uniform. Someone remarked "Since he was an avid fan of baseball did he want to grow up to be a baseball player?" He scratched his head and replied "No I think I would like to be a heart surgeon." Now who says God doesn't work miracles if you remember Angela's letter was addressed to Mr. Stonebrenner but had in regard to Johnny Diamond. and was mailed with a prayer. I guess they thought it was just another fan letter. But before it was all over Mr. Stonebrenner paid for the Doctors and the surgery. Plus the whole family got to go with Casey to the game and sit right behind home plate. But beside that their Pastor got to throw out the first ball. © Carol G Oliver