Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay meets a 13-year-old fan who is facing an opponent far greater than any found on a baseball field

BY JEREMY SANDLER
in Dunedin, Fla.National Post

It started with a smile and ended with some tears and a hug. In between were some very special moments for a young man who a year ago was in hospital recovering from a bone-marrow transplant after being diagnosed with myeloid leukemia.

Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay is as dedicated to his routine as any pitcher in the big leagues, but yesterday he was willing to change his routine to fulfill 13-year old Sean Clayton’s wish to play catch with him at spring training.

Ferried into camp by stretch limousine, Sean and his family were sitting at some picnic tables outside the Blue Jays’ clubhouse when Holly Purdon, the team’s manager of community relations, arranged a surprise appearance by the 2003 American League Cy Young award winner.
“Holly had said, ‘We’ll need a pitcher, will this guy do?’ and he turned around and there’s Roy Halladay,” said the boy’s emotional and ecstatic father, Michael. “His face was … it was amazing. His expression, that’s what he’s been living for.”

After getting permission to steal the boy away, Halladay ushered Sean into the Blue Jays’ clubhouse to outfit him in Blue Jays garb, meet some of his teammates and begin a day to remember.

At the same time, Michael Clayton recalled a couple of years he would like to forget.

It was on May 10, 2006, when, following a late-day call from their family doctor, the Montreal family had to rush their son to Children’s Hospital in that city to begin what would be nearly eight months of treatment. First came chemotherapy. Then, after determining Sean’s 11-year-old brother Kyle was a match for his brother — for which the odds were only 1 in 4 — a bone-marrow transplant was performed in October, 2006. The surgery improved Sean’s chances of survival by at least 40%.

“We have [had] some low points,” Michael Clayton said. “This is very emotional for myself and my wife and his brother. We saw him go to the gates of hell, and it was our promise to make sure it was a return trip.”

Yesterday was chock full of high points. Halladay’s stealthy appearance was Sean’s favourite.

“I was just shocked and I didn’t know what to do,” he said when it was over. “He’s very nice, he’s just amazing. He’s a great player and a great guy.”

As an Irish-born, Caribbean-raised globetrotter before life brought him to Montreal, Michael Clayton had no clue how his son came to be a fan of all things sporting from Toronto even before he got sick.

“Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, I don’t know why,” said Clayton, mentioning former Leafs goalie Ed Belfour as another of his son’s heroes. “The only thing I wish he’d become is a cricket fan.”

Sean, who watched Blue Jays games in hospitals even as he dealt with the side effects of chemo, has his reasons.

“I know people from Montreal are supposed to like the Expos, but the Expos weren’t exactly great,” he said. “I didn’t want to like a team in the States. The Blue Jays I saw were doing well, so I just started following them and I found Roy Halladay. He was a great pitcher and he won a Cy Young and just that’s how it happened.”

With the visit nearing its end, Sean and Halladay emerged from the Blue Jays’ clubhouse laden with souvenirs including autographed bats from Halladay, Vernon Wells and Scott Rolen, one of Halladay’s gloves — also signed — as well as posters and a hat.

There was also an autographed ball for Sean’s doctor back in Montreal.

For Halladay, a father himself, making someone’s wish come true just by meeting them proved a humbling experience.

“It’s tough to live up to honestly,” he said. “It’s definitely a tremendous honour to have somebody want that.

“You just want to do so much for him. He’s a great kid and knowing that’s what he wanted to do, that’s special for me. I’m glad they made it.”
With his leukemia still in remission, Sean’s story remains hopeful.

“We just have to wait, we’re the fortunate ones here,” said Michael Clayton, thanking the Make-A-Wish foundation, WestJet and the Blue Jays for contributing to the trip.

This May will mark two years since Sean’s diagnosi s , which would be a milestone of sorts for him and his family.

“Time is our ally,” said Michael. “The more time we have, the better his chances are.”

Until the final good news point is reached, days like yesterday will have to do, even with the tears that welled up when hero and happy kid said goodbye and at first shook hands, and then enjoyed a special embrace.

“The whole day, he’s been so excited, everything got caught up,” said Halladay. “It’s just one of those special things that happens. It’s a good part of being a baseball player.”

Reprinted with permission of the National Post.