Basketball visits children’s hospital
By Juan Villanueva |
As their season came to a close, Roosevelt’s new head basketball coach, Manny Flores took ten varsity players to CRIT USA, a new Children’s Rehabilitation Institute of TeletonUSA.
CRITUSA helps children with several types of disabilities including those who suffer specifically from neuromusculoskeletal disabilities.
Coach Manny Flores with a patient at CRITUSA. Courtesy photo.
The hospital opened their doors during late October of last year and since then has enrolled over 600 patients. It is also a no profit pediatric rehabilitation center.
The team first explored the hospital and then spent time with patients and parents in physical therapy.
“It was food to feed each of our lives. It made us appreciate things more than ever before. The things we take for granted such as basketball, are the things kids and families pray to achieve one day. It made us want to play for a purpose,” said Kevin Edwards.
The ten players included Burone Edwards, Kevin Edwards, Jonathan Wilson, Xavier Hill, Odessa Williams, D’Angelo Johnson, James Johnson, Rashaad Ellison, Anthony Dunn, and Victor Villanueva whom all spent time communicating and learning about the children at the hospital.
“It made me appreciate things I could do that others couldn’t,” said Xavier Hill.