12-19-2012, 05:32 PM
(11-20-2012, 01:01 PM)Midwest Spy Wrote: This may seem trivial indeed to some people, but I really do appreciate it when pro-athletes take their time to brighten the day of sick children.
We're so helpless against many diseases that can take our kids from us, and the idea that people would give their time and effort to try and make an individual day a little better for them really makes me smile.
I know it happens all around the country and just about every professional team participates. I hope the guys doing it know how much it's appreciated.
The wording could be changed up a little for this one, but I think everyone will appreciate what Victor Cruz did:
Giants' Cruz learning to 'cherish the little moments' after visit with Sandy Hook family
By PAUL SCHWARTZ
Posted: 12:10 PM, December 19, 2012
When Victor Cruz on Tuesday arrived at the Pinto family home in Newtown, Conn. he first saw a bunch of kids from a local Pop Warner team wearing his No. 80 Giants jersey. Then he saw members of the Pinto family, one day removed from burying 6-year old Jack, who was one of 20 children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that has rocked the nation.
“The family was outside and they were still pretty emotional, crying, stuff like that,’’ Cruz said on Wednesday. “I saw how affected they were by just my presence alone.’’
Can anyone be prepared for a visit such as this? Cruz learned through Twitter that he was little Jack Pinto’s favorite player and called the family the day after the tragic mass shooting. He honored Jack Pinto by penning his name on his cleats and gloves during last Sunday’s loss in Atlanta. Cruz presented the cleats and gloves to Ben Pinto, Jack’s 11-year old brother.
“The older brother, he was still pretty emotional and stuff like that so I gave the cleats and stuff to him,’’ Cruz said. “I proceeded to sign stuff for the kids and go inside and just spend some quality time with them.’’
Jack Pinto was buried in a replica Victor Cruz Giants jersey, which humbled Cruz.
“You don’t know whether to say ‘Thank you,’ you appreciate it,’’ Cruz said. “It leaves you kind of blank.’’
Tom Coughlin early in the day on Wednesday made sure to walk directly to Cruz and tell him what he thought of his visit to the grieving Pinto family.
"Incredibly proud of what he's done. Incredibly," Coughlin said. "That family will remember that all their days. And somehow help to, hopefully, some of their grief might at least temporarily be spent in being able to embrace Victor Cruz."
Cruz brought Giants memorabilia to distribute to children in Newtown and kept the details of his visit with the Pinto family private.
"The fact that he went and did that speaks volumes about what he has inside," Coughlin said.
Cruz said the visit changed the way he views his life and the world.
“When you visit a family that’s going through so much and facing so much turmoil in their lives; you meet the family, you see people and the things they’re going through, it helps you look at life through a different lens,’’ Cruz said. “It really changes your view and the way you used to look at things. It changes your view of it.’’
Cruz also said since the shooting, he’s made sure to spend more time with Kennedy, his 11-month old daughter. “Ever since it happened I’ve kind of been spending a little bit more time with her and cherishing the little moments and times you get with her,’’ he said. “You never know when that can be taken from you.’’