I Wish to Meet Barry Bonds

When Brendan was first diagnosed with cancer he was a very sick and unhappy little boy. His mom, sensing that he needed something very special to cheer him up, bought Brendan a new black t-ball bat and ball, which he loved so much he "slept with it in his bed for several days." A year later, Brendan had regained some of the strength lost during the rigorous treatment for his cancer, neuroblastoma, treatment which saved his life but has left him with a hearing impediment. He even started playing t-ball with his new bat. In fact, his parents can already tell that he has quite a gift for the sport. Certainly, for a four-year-old he can really slug that ball! Understandably, because his treasured bat is inscribed with Barry Bonds' name, Brendan started following the star's progress. When Make-A-Wish volunteers visited Brendan to discover what his one heartfelt wish would be, he talked about three possibilities: meeting Lance Armstrong (a family hero because of his victory over cancer), having a horse (named Tank), and meeting Barry Bonds. Spoilt for choice, the process seemed to have stalled when Dad asked Brendan, "Which of those things would you do first?" Without pausing, Brendan voted firmly for a visit to the San Francisco Giants to meet the great Barry Bonds.

The date was set for August. Everyone was excited - even Mom, who was nine months pregnant at the time! A limo took the family to the airport, and the fun began. Day one involved settling in to the hotel, taking a trip to the beach, and checking out the surroundings. Dinner at Planet Hollywood was a big hit, especially with Dad! The following day was "Meet Barry Bonds Day." A limo took Brendan to Pacific Bell Park in time for Brendan to meet the players, including Barry, before the Giants' game vs. the Colorado Rockies. Brendan proudly sported a new San Francisco Giants shirt for his long-awaited meeting with Barry. Barry engaged with Brendan immediately, scoring a home run with this little fan, even before he set foot on the diamond! And he also made friends with two-year-old Lauren when he proved he could pull just as many funny faces as she did! During the game, people in the crowd made a fuss of Brendan when they learned he was there for his wish. Barry didn't score a home run that day, but the Giants did win the game! Afterwards, a limo took them to the Cliff lodge for dinner. Before the family returned home, they managed to visit Pier 39, the aquarium, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and even fit in a bay cruise. A limo ride back to the airport and from the airport home was the perfect conclusion to the perfect wish. But better still, Brendan got to meet his hero during the baseball season that saw Barry Bonds enter the baseball Hall of Fame for setting a new all-time home run record!