Geisinger Home Run For Life brings smiles.
There were fireworks and reasons to cheer from start to dramatic finish. The game ended in the bottom of the ninth when Jason Lane hit a walk-off home run, but for many, this night belonged to Danilo Giordina of Pittston Township.
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and Geisinger Health Systems held their second "Home Run for Life" celebration of the season, this time honoring a special little boy. The soon to be three-year-old left the stadium with an experience that most could only dream of. It was well deserved because even though he won't turn three until July he has been through more hardships then most will face in a lifetime.
Shortly after birth, Danilo was sent to Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville where he was diagnosed with Complex Congenital Heart Defects. His parents Jim and Erica Giordina were told that he would need a three part open-heart surgery.
His first surgery was a success but it was short lived as the next night Danilo went into cardiac arrest. Dr. Pourmonoghadam saved his life that night but after returning home things went badly when he turned blue. He was rushed back to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Danilo completed his third surgery this past year and is expected to do well for some time. He may need additional procedures later down the road but his current prognosis looks good.
Shortly after Yankees broadcaster Mike Vander Wood "called" Danilo's home run on the video board, he and his dad began their home run trot around the bases as both Indianapolis and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre players gave high-fives as they passed. Even the umpires lined up to shake hands and show their respect to the young man.
For most people running the bases in front of more than 7,000 fans in the middle of a game would be intimidating, but not for Danilo. He had a smile ear to ear as his father carried him around the bases.
The 7,000 plus fans in attendance stood and cheered throughout his entire trek. After father and son crossed home plate, fireworks shot into the air and he was presented with a plaque by manager Dave Miley making him an honorary member of the team.
"It's hard to put into words but it's just so gratifying that he is healthy enough to go out on the field and participate in an event like this," Jim Giordina said. "I hope he remembers this night for a long time because not to many kids get an opportunity as exciting as running the bases at PNC Field."
Erica Giordina said, "I'm just so grateful and blessed to have him. I can't stress enough that he's just a normal boy," as she cautioned him and his sister Grace to be careful leaning on the railing.
After watching Danilo run the bases, Jason Lane's walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th and a post-game fireworks show, it was hard for anyone to leave the stadium without a smile from ear to ear like Danilo's.
The next Geisinger Home Run for Life Celebration will be during the June 20 game against Toledo.