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Patient Ambassador Macie and her Clearwater Bullets teammates at the Eddie C. Moore Complex shortly after she threw the first pitch at the tournament.
After four days of double headers, strikeouts, bunts, fouls and fly balls, this year’s Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational has come to a close. This collegiate softball tournament, presented by EvoShield, brought together 16 teams who competed in 40 different games at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida, from Feb. 13-16. The real home run was watching our patients interact with the various teams throughout the weekend. From the first pitch to post-game meet-and-greets, our children enjoyed every second of what this signature sporting event had to offer.
“I cannot stop smiling,” said Macie, a 14-year-old Clearwater native and competitive softball player who recently became a patient of Shriners Children’s. “I can honestly say this will be something that I will remember forever.”
Macie was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 10. She developed a serious spinal curvature that made it difficult for her to play the sport she loved without pain. She traveled to Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for a revolutionary scoliosis surgery called vertebral body tethering, which corrects a developing spine’s curve while preserving the spine’s mobility and range of motion. The teenager is thriving post-procedure and has returned to pitching for her local softball team, the Clearwater Bullets, which call the Eddie C. Moore Complex their “home field.” Her teammates have been very supportive of Macie’s care journey and they jumped at the opportunity to watch the young athlete in action at last weekend’s tournament.
“We’re so thankful that we found Shriners Children’s, and that they helped her get back to doing what she loves, because softball is everything to Macie,” said her mother, Michelle. “Having this opportunity for her entire team to come to the Clearwater Invitational and watch her throw out the first pitch is the perfect way for them all to celebrate together.”
Macie and her fellow teammates also enjoyed a meet-and-greet session with the University of Alabama softball team, exchanging autographs, selfies and softball tips.
Ambassador Ali participates in the meet-and-greet experience with the San Diego State Aztecs softball team.
Also present at the event was Ali, a lifelong patient of Shriners Children’s Southern California who received her first prosthetic from our care teams shortly after her first birthday. Ali was born with fibular hemimelia and underwent a leg amputation when she was 9 months old. Since then, Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services has customized 22 prostheses for Ali, including specialized running legs for sports.
“I’ve been playing softball for so long that it’s truly what I love to do,” Ali said. “One day I want softball to take me to the Paralympics, and attending this tournament really gave me the opportunity to watch the older players and learn from them. I enjoyed watching what their warmups are like and seeing the game on the collegiate level.”
During one of the final matchups of the tournament, Ali was highlighted by ESPN as the “Hero of the Game.” This honor included a special shout-out to her in the stands while her care story was featured during the game’s broadcast. “Playing sports with a prosthetic is really no different than having two legs, and part of my goal is to prove I’m capable of playing at the same level as every other player on the field,” Ali said.
Other familiar faces were spotted at this year’s event, including local Patient Ambassadors Zavi, Momo and Allison. Each of them has represented Shriners Children’s at signature sporting events in the past, epitomizing what it means to receive “the most amazing care, anywhere.”
