Changes In Attitudes

Me: "Hi, I'm Kevin. Would you like to play golf with us today?"

Junior Golfer: "I've never played and I'd like to, but I'm in a wheelchair so I can't play golf."

Me: "Sure you can! I'll help you and show you how."

Junior Golfer: "I know I won't be able to so I'll just sit and watch."

Me: "Are you sure? We've had junior golfers playing from their beds so if you want to play we'll make it happen."

Junior Golfer: "Do you really think so?"

Me: "I know so. Want me to help you and show you how?"

Junior Golfer: "Yes, I'll give it a try."

This conversation is how we started a recent junior golf clinic at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. These type of conversations are not uncommon, but they always serve as motivation to the staff and volunteers at Ranken Jordan. Anytime I have a conversation like this with one of the kids, my first thought is that I want to show them just what they can do! While attending the annual Ranken Jordan Gala a few years ago, I listend to Dr. Nick Holekamp, Chief Medical Officer at Ranken Jordan, give his speech and ever since have held on to one quote from his speech: "It is the job of the big hospitals to save the lives of children. At Ranken Jordan, it is our job to give those children their lives back." Every Wednesday afternoon I try to do my little part to uphold Nick's powerful words.

If you have kept reading and made it this far, you may be wondering what happened following the initial conversation that started this post. After agreeing to give golf a try, I helped hand-over-hand for the first few swings to make sure we were starting on the right path. It did not take long before my help was no longer necessary! There were a few more straight drives hit, and then this happened:

Junior Golfer: "I'm having fun!"

Me: "You are? That's great and makes me happy to hear that!"

Junior Golfer: "Yes, I'm happy that I decided to try and that you helped show me I can do this!"

Moments like these are priceless and exactly why I look forward so much to Golf Day with the kids. Seeing the huge smile on the face of our new junior golfer, the pure excitement, and the realization that they can do something they did not believe was possible, created an indescribable feeling for all of us involved. I have said more times than I can count that the children do far more for me than I will ever be able to do for them. This is another shining example of why that is true.

Will You Help Me?

Each week on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, etc., there are dozens upon dozens of golf shots that will make you say, "Wow!" These are the type of golf shots that will make even the Tour players watch a replay of. Of all of these shots each year, there are still two (it used to be three) that stand out above all others for me -- the ceremonial tee shots at Augusta National to officially start the Masters Tournament. Every year those are my favorite shots hit in any professional event. However, as much as I love those shots and the Masters Tournament, there are three other golf shots that are my absolute favorite to see each year. I would fail miserably if I attempted to explain the range of feelings and emotions that I have while watching these golf shots.

 

May and RaeAnne cheering on Jeremiah

The annual Ranken Jordan golf tournament starts with three tee shots that are nothing short of amazing. Each year we have three of our own "Legends of Golf" hit tee shots to start the golf tournament. They could be inpatients or former patients, but all three have learned to play golf while at Ranken Jordan and enjoy playing the game. Just like at the Masters, our three golfers receive wonderful introductions from KMOX sports director Tom Ackerman. A couple of hundred golfers playing in the tournament surround the tee box and watch as our junior golfers get the tournament underway. I see the kids hit shots like this every week, 52 weeks a year, and I am still blown away each year by these three shots. This year the three golfers, Jeremiah Moore, RaeAnne Toennies, and May Reynoso, confidently addressed the golf ball and hit wonderful tee shots right down the middle of the first fairway! After these shots there were smiles all around and not many dry eyes as the players headed to their carts to get the tournament started. I am already looking forward to next year's tournament to see three more shots like these!

Jeremiah getting ready to let it fly!

Before we took our "Legends of Golf" to the first tee to hit their tee shots, I spent some time with each of them explaining what would happen and what they could expect. While talking with RaeAnne, she looked straight at me and asked, "Will you help me?" It took me a minute to find my voice, but I told her, "Of course I will!" That brought a smile to Rae's face and a few minutes later we were all headed for the tee. RaeAnne, Jeremiah, and May, all had smiles on their faces the entire day. For the second straight year, May played as part of the foursome I play in and we finished tied for first (this year we lost a scorecard playoff so finished second) thanks to her carrying our team!

May's team

I say it frequently that there is no better feeling than putting smiles on the faces of the kids at Ranken Jordan -- regardless of whether those kids are there as inpatients or have gone home. Seeing the smiles and how much fun the kids have each year hitting these tee shots is beyond priceless. I am very, very fortunate to be able to go to Ranken Jordan every week to spend time with the kids and also to have a front row seat for their tee shots each year starting the golf tournament. If you are in the St. Louis area, join us for golf sometime and you will see up close why I say the kids always do more for me than I could ever do for them. And if you are not in the St. Louis area, find a pediatric hospital or children's charity in your area and lend your talents to create those smiles. I guarantee you will be glad that you did!

Look at that smile on May's face!

RaeAnne is getting ready for her tee shot as Tom Ackerman introduces her

Eight Years and Ready For More!

How many of you have ever had an idea that you knew was a great idea? The only problem is that you had absolutely no clue how you would make that idea a reality, and even if it did become a reality, you really had no clue how you would keep it going. For me those type of ideas are very few and far between. However a little more than eight years ago I had just such an idea.

Early in 2011, I walked into Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital for the very first time. I was going there to meet with Janine Roe to discuss this crazy idea I had. The crazy idea was to create a year-round, weekly junior golf clinic for medically complex children in a pediatric hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Sounds easy, right? Our meeting could not have gone any better and it quickly went from a discussion of "what" to figuring out "how" and "when." The end result of that meeting was what would soon turn into our weekly golf clinics at Ranken Jordan with the first of those being eight years ago today -- May 10, 2011. Fast forward through eight years, more than 425 junior golf clinics, and more than 3,500 children, and here we are celebrating our eight year anniversary!

I cannot put into words how grateful and appreciate I am for the trust Janine and the entire staff at Ranken Jordan have placed in me to allow me to spend time every week with the kids. They are truly special people doing miraculous work each and every day. The amazing advances being made every day in medicine and health care to provide more healing and more hope to more children and more families, would not be nearly as successful without each and every one of the people who pour their hearts into their work at Ranken Jordan.

After I left that initial meeting with Janine, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but as I referenced in the opening paragraph, I had no idea how I was going to do it. Before pulling out of the parking lot I called Josh Riley, PGA, who at the time was the Gateway PGA Executive Director. For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Josh is one of the greatest, most polite people you will ever meet, and he was in full support of this crazy idea to teach medically complex children in a hospital how to play golf. Following our phone call, Josh discussed the idea with the Gateway PGA Foundation president, Ozzie Smith, who was all in for providing support. Their kindness and support made this program possible and for that I will always be grateful.

While driving home following the initial meeting with Janine, I stopped at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to have one more conversation about the junior golf program we were getting ready to start. My mother was in the final weeks of her fight with cancer (she would ultimately lose her fight on March 8, 2011) and her most recent chemotherapy treatment had caused her to be hospitalized and unable to talk. When I explained to her and my dad what we were getting ready to do, I saw that familiar sparkle in her eyes that had been missing for so long, and I knew she was proud of her little boy. I hope she has enjoyed watching the last eight years of weekly junior golf clinics from her view from above as much as I have enjoyed helping with them, and I hope she is as ready for more as we are!

Looking back at the eight years of junior golf clinics, it is impossible for me to say thank you to each and every person who has contributed without leaving out someone (or many people). The staff and volunteers at Ranken Jordan, supporters of Ranken Jordan, the Gateway PGA Section and PGA REACH, fellow PGA Professionals, LPGA Professionals, U.S. Kids Golf, PGA of America staff members, my friends and family, and so many more, have all been instrumental in the success of the junior golf program. Most importantly I want to say thank you to each and every one of the children and their families for allowing me to spend time with them. They are the true reasons why we have enjoyed eight years and are looking forward to so many more. As Mary Ranken Jordan said, "consider the children first in all you do."

What A Group!

A doctor, a pediatric hospital inpatient, a recreation therapist, and a PGA Professional walk onto a putting green . . .

Ok, so this did not really happen. In all honesty, it was actually 2 doctors, 4 patients, 3 recreation therapists, and 1 PGA Professional. I guess I should also mention that at one time or another there were also 2 nurses, 2 physical therapists, 1 more doctor, the chairman of the Board of Directors, and numerous people in the gallery. By now most of y'all are thinking I have either completely lost my mind or are intrigued to see if I have any direction whatsoever to this story. Well, my mind was pretty much gone a long time ago and yes, I do have a direction to this story. I think. Bear with me and I will see if I can get to the point sooner rather than later.

In August of 2018, what I refer to as Ranken Jordan National Golf Links officially opened at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital (watch the grand opening video HERE). This is an outdoor area at the hospital that allows the children to utilize through a variety of activities. The most noticeable features when someone walks out to it are the two putting greens and the baseball diamond. The entire field is an artificial surface allowing the children to get outside and play any time it is warm enough. In the Fall, Challenger Baseball games will be held here and we use it as often as possible for our junior golf program. Anybody else as amazed as I am at the one-of-a-kind facilities at Ranken Jordan?

During our most recent junior golf session, we changed things up and had a bit of competition on the links at Ranken Jordan. It started with an alternate shot event with two-person teams consisting of the children's team (two teams of our junior golfers) and the team of doctors. During this fun, highly competitive match, the therapists helped the junior golfers get lined up and I helped a couple of them swing (two of the kids need hand-over-hand assistance to help them swing). While standing back and watching, I am not sure who had more fun competing in the match -- the doctors or the kids! For those scoring at home, the two teams of junior golfers tied and the team of doctors finished in third place. At the completion of that match, the children and therapists created teams for a long drive contest and we finished off with the kids having their own long drive contest. I do not think I can adequately describe how much fun we all had!

Days like this are yet another illustration of the inclusive nature of golf and also how much of a healing tool the game can be. I ask the question frequently -- who in their wildest dreams would ever imagine that a pediatric hospital would have two putting greens, a baseball field, and a year-round weekly junior golf program for medically complex children? Not only does Ranken Jordan have all of that, but they have the staff who is willing to think outside the box in the care they are providing the children and their families. Miraculous work is being done every day at 11365 Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights, Missouri. I am eternally grateful that golf is a very small part of that and thankful that I get to spend time there every week.