MOBILE, Ala. – College football players in town for the 75th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl said goodbye to virtual visits, and hello to in-person fist bumps, high fives and even a few hugs. For the first time since the pandemic, dozens of players descended on USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital to meet patients, sign autographs, and take photos.

Because of safety measures in place during the pandemic, the annual visits moved to a virtual format for three years. On Friday morning, though, players, mascots and cheerleaders gathered in the hospital’s courtyard before heading upstairs to meet patients, their families, and caregivers.

One lucky little boy had a group of future NFL players sing to him for his birthday. They broke out into song inside the hospital’s classroom when they found out about his special day.

Inside the hospital’s playroom, Jalyx Hunt, a linebacker from Houston Christian University, asked patients to sign a Senior Bowl T-shirt. “Thank you so much,” he said, kneeling next to a little girl in a wheelchair. “It means a lot to me.”

The Senior Bowl visits are organized as part of the hospital’s Mapp Child and Family Life Program, which is aimed, in part, at normalizing a child’s stay at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. Research shows that such techniques can lead to better health outcomes for patients.

“It’s such a delight to have the players and mascots take time to visit with our patients and staff,” said Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP, CEO at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “We have children and their families dealing with some extremely challenging situations, and they are not able to leave the hospital for football games and other activities. It’s heartwarming to see a child’s mood brighten when they meet special guests.”

The Mapp Child and Family Life Program supports families with hospitalized children by utilizing child life specialists, recreational therapists and full-time certified teachers who specialize in education, preparation, and support activities. The goal for these specialists is to minimize stress and help children and families better cope with their healthcare experience.