Shocking as 3Milwaukee Brewers Blues Players Faces Pena…
Phoenix: In sports, it’s common to remark that “your team is your family,” and teams work hard to instill this culture. Connections can develop simply by spending time together, having same friends, or having similar hobbies.
This is also true in baseball, where players of various skill levels frequently play with the same teammates for years on end.
However, it was not at a team meal or on a field that three Wisconsin boys and their families met. Their shared effort to overcome their fatal illnesses and return to the field to play their beloved games brought them together and helped them form a strong friendship.
Evan Rennicke, Malakai Kaesermann, and Brandon Krueger all experienced potentially fatal illnesses when they were young.
Brandon, now 15 years old, had barely grown the previous two years before receiving a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease at the age of 12. In order to guarantee that he got the nutrients he required for growth and to continue receiving biologic infusions, the second baseman had to go to a liquid diet.
After falling in love with baseball when he was tiny, Molly and Matt Krueger of De Pere, Wisconsin, said their son was “in his element” at spring training on Sunday. They observed how at ease and natural he was around all the players, including Joey Wiemer of the Milwaukee Brewers, who gave Brandon a bat from the game and took the whole family out to supper.
Malakai, 13, has had multiple lengthy and intricate procedures for congenital heart defects since he was a small child; the most recent procedure was performed when he was just 3 years old. He still maintains his cardiac health by getting routine echocardiograms and taking an aspirin daily to avoid blood clots.
Malakai’s parents, Mike and Amber Kaesermann, are aware that even though he might need other surgeries in the future, his time in Phoenix will undoubtedly brighten his days when they are back in Oconomowoc.
“He’ll carry these memories with him for the rest of his life, and even in difficult times, he can reflect back on these happy moments,” Amber remarked.
Three boys, Evan is the youngest at eleven. He recently had a 15-month cancer battle after receiving a diagnosis of medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, in 2022. After receiving intensive chemotherapy, all brain cancer was recently eradicated from him.
Chelsie and Andy Rennicke relished the sight of their kid having fun without concern about his medical condition. Early on, Evan had a fondness for baseball as well; in Rennicke’s backyard, he even picked up a stick and a rock and began to hit it around like a baseball. From the beginning of the trip, the locals from Ixonia knew that the entire family would have a memorable week.
It was “amazing” for Chelsie to “know that he got to be on the field with the players and get tips from all of the baseball players that he looks up to.”
Andy remarked, “We’ll never get to experience something like this again.” “It has simply been amazing.”
Following treatment, the three were chosen as their representatives from a pool of Aurora Health Care patients, each of whom had been nominated by their individual pediatricians. For the second year in a row and the third year in total, Aurora Health Care is an official sponsor of the Brewers. On February 14 at American Family Field, Brandon, Malakai, and Evan were chosen to be the Aurora Health Care MVPs.
On February 14, Brandon Krueger, Evan Rennicke, and Malakai Kaesermann made known their plans to attend Milwaukee Brewers spring training. (Image provided by Aurora Health Care.) (Image by Cronkite News/Jesse Brawders)
On February 14, Brandon Krueger, Evan Rennicke, and Malakai Kaesermann made known their plans to attend Milwaukee Brewers spring training. (Image provided by Aurora Health Care.)
After learning that they would be traveling to Phoenix for spring training from Brewers player and former MVP Christian Yelich, the lads and their families mistakenly believed they were taking a tour of the stadium.
After four days in the Valley, all of them with their families, they threw out the first pitch at Sunday’s Brewers-Rockies spring training game.
When the lads first received the news, Malakai and Evan were taken aback, not even grasping what was going on.
Speaking without words, Malakai said. “I assumed Yelich meant someday when they said in the video, ‘Can’t wait to see you down.'” I had no idea that I would be traveling to Phoenix in person.
Evan remarked, “I did not understand it.” As he handed it to his friend, I turned to face Malakai and grinned, asking myself, “Is this real life or am I dreaming?”
Brandon was nominated by his pediatrician, Dr. Donald Beno of Aurora Children’s Health Care, who also served as his caregiver. As one of the Aurora Health Care representatives, Beno traveled to the Valley to witness the three boys go through the procedure that “gives them the chance to be a kid again.”
“This is a great way to help in their healing process and give them a chance to get away from the offices and treatments and just have some fun,” Beno said. “The children and their families have all been through major struggles.”
On February 22, the family took a plane from Milwaukee to the Valley to start their fully compensated trip. The family were chauffeured about with a comprehensive itinerary planned by Aurora Health Care and the Brewers, eliminating any stress that typically accompanies vacationing.
Molly said, “They’ve taken away all the planning and all the worry.” “We’re just in awe of this, and we’re really witnessing it through our eyes, which is also a gift.”
Before Sunday’s first pitch, outfielder Blake Perkins of the Milwaukee Brewers, left, gives guidance to Brandon Krueger, Malakai Kaesermann, and Evan Rennicke. (Image by Cronkite News/Jesse Brawders)
Before Sunday’s first pitch, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins, left, gives guidance to Evan Rennicke, Malakai Kaesermann, and Brandon Krueger. (Image by Cronkite News/Jesse Brawders)
The lads met team members, took part in team warm-ups, and explored the clubhouse during the week. Milwaukee outfielder Blake Perkins gave the three advise prior to throwing out the opening pitch on Sunday. Later, the three took turns serving as junior broadcasters for the bottom of the fourth inning.
Following Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Perkins took to social media to say that “meeting the boys made my week.”
Malakai was especially thrilled about the chance to work in the booth since it allowed him to introduce his hero, shortstop Willy Adames, to the field he hopes to pursue in the future.
Evan made the most of the opportunity to meet Perkins, who provided him with some insightful advise before his first pitch. After being unable to play last year owing to his treatment, Evan will play baseball again this year as a catcher.
He warmed up and played ball with Yelich during their visit to the Brewers’ practice on Friday. He even shook hands with pitcher Hoby Milner.
Going out to dinner with his hero, Wiemer, was Brandon’s favorite part of the weekend; he described the entire event as “breathtaking.”
For Brandon, Evan, and Malakai, the entire event was a getaway from their appointment- and treatment-filled lives as well as a cause to celebrate their common fandom.
“I didn’t have a single day off in February,” Malakai remarked, grateful for the chance to put the appointments out of her mind, even if it was just for the weekend.
Due to Evan’s frequent schedule changes for chemotherapy and checks, the Rennicke family used to write all of their plans in pencil on their calendars. Evan commented, “It’s just amazing that we had it on the calendar and we didn’t have to take it off,” indicating that they didn’t have to worry about anything changing this time.
While he considered the significance of their stay this week, Brandon realized that the change of location had made a huge effect.
All you have to do is pause, take in your surroundings, and savor the now. Since this doesn’t happen to everyone, Brandon expressed his gratitude that we were selected.
This trip’s impact has the potential to grow beyond a pleasant childhood memory. It may develop into an encounter that helps each of them heal more quickly.
“Medicine is more than just taking pills; it’s about reliving the past and relishing the present,” Brandon stated.
Malakai, Evan, Brandon, and their families have come together over their common experiences during the entire ordeal, hoping that this week’s events will mark the beginning of each of them getting back to their regular lives.
After tossing out the opening pitch at American Family Fields of Phoenix, Brandon Krueger, Malakai Kaesermann, and Evan Rennicke stand for the playing of the national anthem, left to right. (Image by Cronkite News/Jesse Brawders)
After tossing out the opening pitch at American Family Fields of Phoenix, Brandon Krueger, Evan Rennicke, and Malakai Kaesermann stand for the playing of the national anthem, left to right. (Image by Cronkite News/Jesse Brawders)
The mutual love of baseball and their experiences in and out of appointments and offices have strengthened the bonds between the families of Kaesermann, Krueger, and Rennicke. They have only been together for two weeks, yet already they have forged a special bond that will last a lifetime.
“Baseball is the commonality that has allowed the families to really bond over the past three days.” Despite their own hardships, baseball has the power to unite these lads. Meeting the other boys has been amazing as well, Andy remarked.
“We now have lifelong friends.” We bonded over baseball,” Molly remarked. “We’ve made lifelong friends through them, which is unfortunate and probably (a) lifelong situation, but our various illnesses and medical situations brought us together.”
One morning at their hotel, following the families’ visit to the Brewers during practice, they had a heartfelt experience. Brandon and Malakai got autographed Brewers trade cards, including one from Yelich, while they were at practice. When Brandon learned the following morning at breakfast that Evan hadn’t gotten a card the day before, he gave him a signed Yelich card to be sure he got one too.
Observing the conversation, Chelsie was surprised at how close the boys had gotten so quickly.
Chelsie remarked, “Seeing these guys who just met and doing this amazing just melted my heart.” “They continue to give back to one another.”
The boys became close friends in a matter of two weeks and began to understand that their amazing experience was coming to an end.
On Sunday, Evan told his parents, “I’m kind of sad,” acknowledging that reality was beginning to sink in. I’m going to see some pals that I will never get to see again.
That exchange embodied the goal of the trip and the Aurora Health Care MVPs in its entirety: to reconnect with long-lost memories and engage children and their families in activities they like.
“The instant bond over baseball and the experiences they’ve shared has been incredible,” Chelsie remarked.
It was disclosed to Malakai, Evan, and Brandon that they would all be attending a Brewers game at American Family Field in July, so this would not be their final get-together.
The boys’ journey with their heroes and their newfound family was coming to an end, but their baseball-related memories and relationships will last a lifetime.
Chelsie remarked, “All three boys are here this week for very different reasons, and just to see that they’re just boys.” “They’re just boys having fun while playing baseball outside.”
