By BRETT CLARKSON, Sun Media
For Blue Jays shortstop David Eckstein, the kids at Bloorview Rehab are the “real champions.”
The 2006 World Series MVP yesterday paid a visit to the children’s rehabilitation hospital, where many of the mentally and physically disabled children awaiting his arrival were excited enough to shout “Let’s go Blue Jays!” repeatedly as Eckstein walked in.
“Without a doubt, these are the real champions,” Eckstein said.
The two-time World Series champ happily mingled with the kids, signed autographs, and spoke to many of them — including the non-verbal youngsters — individually.
For Eckstein, a player who’s known for his big heart off the field, getting to spend time with kids facing medical challenges is not something he takes lightly. Growing up in Florida, the future all-star ball player coped with his own health problems from a very young age. As a young child, he needed surgery for a stomach blockage. As well, his sister, brother, and father all required kidney transplants due to a genetic condition.
“At a very young age my sister came down with something — we didn’t know what it was. She was about to die,” Eckstein said in an interview.
“We took her to the hospital, she stayed in the hospital for a while, and they found out she was in complete renal failure. The whole family got tested and we found out that my other brother and sister had it and my father had it. So it was something that, at a young age, that was something difficult.” For the parents of Kalen Forsythe, 15, who is non-verbal due to cerebral palsy, the presence yesterday of Eckstein and mascot Ace was something her son noticeably appreciated, even if he couldn’t express his delight.
“He’s excited, he’s happy,” said mom Lori Forsythe. “There’s a lot of excitement here.”
“These guys have a busy enough schedule as it is, and they don’t need to do this sort of thing, and he wants to,” added Kalen’s dad Brian, speaking of Eckstein. “And by coming here, it really puts a smile on the kids’ faces.”
