Softball "Adopts" Amelia Rowiniewski Through Team IMPACT
5/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the midst of its season, the Seton Hall softball team forged a relationship with TEAM Impact, a non-profit organization aiming to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses. Through that new bond, the Pirates welcomed six year old Amelia Rowiniewski from Wallington, N.J. to be a special member of their team.
At three years old, Amelia caught pneumonia which eventually escalated to respiratory distress and into a disease called Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is a "super bug" virus and is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children.
As a result, her kidneys shut down and Amelia was admitted to the ICU where she was in a coma for three weeks. During her stay in the ICU, doctors did everything just to keep her alive as her body fought the virus.
Once she came out of the coma, Amelia was put on a transplant list for a new kidney and started a rigorous dialysis regiment. Amelia eventually found a donor and underwent a kidney transplant in July of 2008. Luckily, the kidney was not rejected, but the road to recovery was anything but simple. She faced multiple surgeries and procedures to keep her health in check.
Unfortunately, a transplanted kidney only continues to function properly for approximately 10 years, so within that time frame Amelia will most likely have to undergo more surgeries and treatment.
This past March, the Pirates introduced themselves to Amelia via email through her parents, Wesley and Wanda, who are avid Seton Hall athletics' supporters. From there, Amelia could be seen at practices and in the dugout during games.
"Amelia has been a great addition to our team," said head coach Ray Vander May. "She's like a magnet and the girls were drawn to her right away. It's amazing what she's been able to overcome in such a short amount of time. We are doing our best to help her and give her a positive influence. In turn, she has made us realize how lucky we are in life and brought our team even closer than they were at the beginning of the season."
The softball team will continue their relationship with Amelia through the summer and into next season as well. She is taking the lessons she learned with the Pirates on to the field for the first time as she is signed up to play organized ball this spring.
"Amelia is a part of our team no question about it," sophomore pitcher Jen Metzger said. "I think we help her take her mind off of her sickness and give her family more support. It's a great program and we are honored to be a part of Team IMPACT."
"Amelia faces a critical situation, so anything we can do to help we will be there for her," Vander May said. "We are trying to help shape her life, but she's really shaping ours."
Team IMPACT works across the northeast we create unparalleled team based support systems. Core to our model is harnessing the power of teamwork by matching these courageous kids with college athletic teams. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto local college athletic teams and become an official member of the team for the duration of their treatment and beyond.
