There were Angels in the hospital on Tuesday morning, Sept. 6.
As part of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a pair of Los Angeles Angels visited the MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital to surprise pediatric patients. Outfielder Jo Adell and infielder Luis Rengifo spent some quality time with patients in their rooms — helping to keep their spirits up while hospitalized.
The Angels also brought the youngsters memorabilia, and wrote uplifting messages as part of the Long Beach hospital’s Flames of Hope Project – a collection of notes that represents the community’s united hope for a cure for childhood cancer and sickle cell disease during and beyond Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Adell and Rengifo visited the children and their families on the hematology-oncology pediatric and general pediatric floors of the hospital, signed hats and took pictures.
The athletes also spent time with each child, getting to know them and talking about their interests, including video games and superheroes. They answered questions too, such as what they thought was their best hit during a game.
Angels’ players Jo Adell, left, and Luis Rengifo, right, chat with patient David Rodriguez, 15, and his father Marcos of Long Beach, on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Angels fan David Rodriguez, 15, poses with Luis Rengifo, left, and Jo Adell of his favorite baseball team on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit to patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Angels’ players Jo Adell, left, and Luis Rengifo visit Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Patient Gia Valentino, 16, poses for a photo with her parents, John and Elissa of Redondo Beach, along with Angels’ players Jo Adell, #7, and Luis Rengifo, #2, during a visit to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
6-year-old Ariel Amador pets therapy poodle, Monet, on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit with Angels infielder Luis Rengifo at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Angels infielder Luis Rengifo spends time with 6-year-old Ariel Amador on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Angels’ players Jo Adell, left, and Luis Rengifo visit 4-year-old cancer patient Andrew Chea on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Patient David Rodriguez, 15, looks on in an Angels City Connect jersey on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, as Angels outfielder Luis Rengifo autographs a cap at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Angels’ players Jo Adell, left, and Luis Rengifo visit 5-year-old patient Jin Atsumi and his mother Chika of Torrance on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Jin Atsumi, 5, flashes a victory sign in his brand new baseball cap on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit by Angels players Luis Rengifo and Jo Adell to patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cancer patient Jin Atsumi, 5, receives some souvenirs on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit by Luis Rengifo, right, and Jo Adell of the Angels to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Jacob Verdin, 8, sports a new baseball cap on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit by Luis Rengifo, left, and Jo Adell of the Angels to patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Jacob Verdin, 8, receives some souvenirs on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit by Luis Rengifo, left, and Jo Adell of the Angels to patients at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
8-year-old Jacob Verdin is all smiles in his new baseball cap on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit by Luis Rengifo and Jo Adell of the Angels to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
8-year-old Jacob Verdin gets a fist pump from Angels infielder Luis Rengifo on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, during a visit with teammate Jo Adell to Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
“We are super excited to slowly bring partners like the Angels back to come and visit,” Rita Goshert, director of the child life program at the Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said, alluding to the inability for the team to visit in person during the coronavirus pandemic. “These visits help brighten the patients’ day and help kids cope with the hospital environment and it makes them feel special. Visits like this can make a difference in their hospital stay.”
This was the second visit that members of the Angels have made in-person visits to the hospital since the coronavirus pandemic, Goshert said.
Whether the kids like baseball or not, Goshert said, they were excited to get to meet the special visitors.
Jin Atsumi, 5, is a big Angels fan because of their star athlete Shohei Ohtani. Jin was still very excited to get to meet Adell and Rengifo, his mother, Chika, said. He had been anticipating the visit since the night before and was up early — ready to meet the baseball stars.
Since moving to Torrance last year, Jin has spent the majority of his time in the hospital, making him one of the longest-staying patients at Miller. But that didn’t stop him from posing for the camera and showing Adell and Rengifo all his toys.
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Gia Valentino, 16, had a big smile when the baseball players came to visit her and her parents. Valentino plays for her high school basketball team at Bishop Montgomery in Torrance and shared with Adell and Rengifo her favorite WNBA and NBA players.
She also asked how the baseball players got scouted into the major leagues and asked about their favorite baseball players.
“I had heard they were coming and was excited with the timing,” Valentino said.
