[CNN] Hailey Dawson, 5, has quite an arm -- and attached at the end -- is a "special hand."She was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare birth defect, causing her right hand to not fully develop. But through some research, professors and a team of whizzes at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Hailey doesn't have to miss a beat. In fact, her hand is functional enough for the big leagues.
Hailey stepped up to the plate at a Baltimore Orioles baseball game Monday sporting her "Flexy Hand 2," an orange uniform and pig tails. She tossed the ball to her favorite player, "Manny" Machado. The crowd cheered.
The Dawsons are big Orioles fans. Hailey's 10-year-old brother even plays for a little league team in Las Vegas also called the Orioles. With baseball on the brain and a determination in her spirit -- one day Hailey asked her mom, "Wouldn't it be cool if I could throw the ball for the big Orioles?"
The Dawsons thought "why not?" A few calls and emails later, and Hailey was scheduled to throw the first pitch with her biggest fans -- her family -- in the crowd.
I work on the Burg every evening, have done so for the past fourteen years. So do Doc Steve, badanov, trailing wife, besoeker, Pappy, BP, and Ryuge. Many others have done the same and then dropped from the scene for one reason or another and we miss them. Page One on the Burg documents fourteen years of unmitigated Evil (capital E), starting with 9-11-01.
Then I see a story like this and my heart melts.
I think of all the other 5-year-olds who have to live with the cruelty and viciousness on Page One, and the ones who have to live with its fallout. I think of all the innocent little babies who've entered this world, only to lose their lives and all the possibilities for goodness and greatness that could have been theirs.
I do hope to God that little Hailey grows up to lead a secure and productive life, full of love and affection. I won't say she "deserves" it; you "deserve" what you work for, work toward. I will say that I hope that Evil (capital E) avoids her for all her days.