Miracle League - 2026 Season

When you have a child with disabilities, you discover an entire world that you didn't know existed. I'm so grateful we are living in the era we are in terms of access to services, resources and opportunities to enjoy childhood for Teddy. There's so much that exists now that I don't believe existed during my childhood. 

One of the amazing opportunities is Miracle League, which provides kids the chance to play baseball on an accessible field partnered with amazing volunteer buddies who support their needs. Year after year, Teddy has had great buddies, and this year Sam did amazing with him. From the first game, Sam was comfortable interacting with Teddy, guiding him where they needed to go and supporting him to bat and run the bases. It is so cool as parents to see these young volunteers shine with how they interact with our children, and Teddy lit up when he saw Sam each week.

Sam + Teddy = All smiles!

This season was extra fun because Teddy has become best friends with Mikey through school this year. As parents of a non-verbal child, it took us a while to realize Teddy had this best friend, but we eventually figured it out. These two boys cannot get enough of each other. It doesn't matter if they spend hours together during the day, they're constantly wanting to hang out again with each other. 

So they were on the same baseball team, which meant every Tuesday we got to hang out together at the ball field. Teddy loved having his friend with him to bat next to him, play together in the outfield, get ice cream before or after the games, share supper before and ride together to games. Their friendship made this season extra sweet for all of us.

These two are something else together!

We're lucky that Teddy has such amazing family and friends. Every game came with a cheering section, complete with grandparents, great aunts and uncles and our adopted kids or some combination thereof. It's truly a blessing to have family and friends who show up for us to share in the ordinary moments of summer that really are the extraordinary moments of life. 

Baseball was a Hit

Teddy finished his first season with Miracle League, and we're already looking forward to next season. I'm so glad we discovered this program and decided to give it a try, even though games are 30 minutes away. This is such a fantastic program that truly makes baseball accessible to kids with all different abilities and disabilities through a team of creative and caring volunteers. The amount of volunteers needed to support 16 teams of kids, each with a 1:1 buddy, not to mention coaches, photographers, umpires and more is a significant number, yet there always seemed to be plenty of helpers with smiles on their faces who love making baseball possible. 

Teddy's buddy Carlie was amazing with him. She quickly learned how to communicate with him and anticipate his moves. She definitely could keep up with him and was part of the reason he had a great season! He also had great coaches, who quickly knew him by name, cheered him on and supported him.

Teddy with one of his biggest fans and his amazing buddy!

This video captures baseball pretty accurately for Teddy. I thought he was coming to say hi to me, but he was more concerned about everyone else in the stands (none of whom he knows).

Play Ball!

Let's just say Teddy's buddy got her exercise last week at the first ball game of the season. Teddy was like a ping pong ball: here, there and everywhere. Fortunately, the gates do shut, so the teams are contained to the field and their dugouts. Otherwise Teddy would have escaped to the bleachers because, well, bleachers are really cool. 

This star arrived with his fan club, including beautiful adoring women. ;-)

He was so excited to be with so many people, and to play baseball. He did great listening to some of his buddy's instructions, putting on his batting helmet and picking out a bat. Of course, he also tried to make her wear a batting helmet and gave her a bat, too. He was pretty excited to bat, but then he was too distracted to actually run the bases when he was supposed to run. Don't worry, he wasn't too distracted to run all over the field the rest of the time.

It was a combination of heartwarming and hilarious (mostly because we were laughing at our goofball son) to watch the game. There is sheer joy on the faces of so many players, buddies and family members. 

Teddy had his own cheering section, with both his sitters, us, one set of grandparents and then one of our sitter's friends. We've had so many friend and family ask when games are to come cheer him on, as well, so he's feeling pretty loved. 

They had a professional photographer at the last game who got some entertaining shots of him, that I won't share here as I don't have permission. But here's a snippet of his game with all his loveable distraction. 

It's going to be a fun season!

My Mets Star

It's an exciting day, folks! Today is Teddy's first game with Miracle League, which is an amazing organization that gives kids with all abilities the opportunity to play baseball. The league plays on an adapted field, which is completely wheelchair accessible, as many players use wheelchairs or have mobility issues. Each player is matched with a buddy who assists them with batting, fielding and hangs out with them during the games, so that parents and families can truly be spectators. 

We've heard nothing but good things about this program and finally decided to sign Teddy up because he loves being around people, and he gets a huge kick out of running around baseball diamonds. He was so excited to sit in the bleachers last week when we picked up his gear and met his coaches. It was amazing to see all the different kids who are going to play ball this summer, who all get to be included and participate in a way that works for each of them. 

I can't wait to share his baseball adventures with you!

Can you tell how excited Teddy was to meet his coaches?!?