Hi, Noel Lloyd from the D.R.

As most fans of American baseball know, the major leagues are full of talented Dominican players.  From veteran hurler Pedro Martinez to (in my opinion, anyway) baseball’s best player Albert Pujols to budding stars in the minors, they grace fields across the U.S. with their immense skills.

Throughout our time here, we’ve seen how baseball-crazy Dominicans really are.  They are, of course, proud of their major league heroes. But it’s also obvious by the variety of major league hats being sported.  The  New York Yankees are a popular team.  As are the Washington Nationals.  Sadly, I only saw one hat of my beloved Philadelphia Phillies.

Today as we drove back into Santo Domingo, we passed a huge baseball field filled with Dominican kids in their uniforms practicing.  We stopped by to watch for a while, and I was impressed with the skills of these kids.  I think I might have seen a future major leaguer or two today.

Cristofer, one of the boys we visited today, receives a pitch from a friend. Bryce Flurie films in the background.

Throughout our home visits with CURE patients, we’ve been able to pass out some baseballs generously donated by the Harrisburg Senators. They were an instant hit with the kids, and in one case, it inspired an impromptu baseball game.

It was very inspiring to see these kids play baseball after not being able to before. Instead of having to watch from the sidelines, they can get into the game themselves!

Jose, another child we visited today, shows us he's a number one fan of the Senators!

All during this month, CURE is encouraging people to help kids like the ones we’ve been telling you about get off the bench and get into the game.  If you would like to help, you can go here to learn more.

More tomorrow.  Thanks for reading!

Remember to follow us on Twitter at helpcurenow.

Noel Lloyd saying hello from the Dominican Republic.

Today, the CURE DR Documentary Team headed out to La Vega, a town about 65 miles northwest of Santo Domingo.  We visited two boys who have been treated by CURE’s hospital in Santo Domingo:  Brandy (age 2) and Esteban (age 12).

You might remember the story of Brandy.  We posted it on the blog a while ago.  Now, his casts are off, and he’s beginning to walk!

After we spent time at the homes of both boys, I thought about what we had seen and heard.  The thing that really struck me was the importance of family to both of these boys.

In the cases of both Brandy and Esteban, it was an extended family member who first found out about the CURE hospital.

Brandy’s family has helped his grandmother and mother through every step of his medical treatment at CURE, including finances and transportation.  In fact, on visiting Brandy’s home, we met his aunts, uncles and cousins. Many of them live right next door. It was truly a family affair.

Brandy with (left to right) his grandmother, Damian, CURE translator, and his mother

The same was true at Esteban’s house.  We were introduced to three or four uncles who suddenly showed up from behind the house.  As we interviewed him (He had a knee corrected at the CURE hospital.), his huge family watched.  Afterward, a bunch of his younger family members gathered in the street to play an impromptu game of baseball as the adults looked on and cheered.  Esteban had lost his father a few years ago.  But he was never without a father figure.  Others in the family stepped in to make sure he always had love and support.

Esteban (wearing a blue shirt holding a baseball) and his family

Both of these boys are now on their way to walking because of CURE International, but I don’t know if they would have had that chance to come to us if it wasn’t for their extended families.

Another great and inspiring day.

Follow our journeys on Twitter at helpcurenow.