Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kids

Our first Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid was Franco Vranic! Franco is currently a primary care patient at Nemours Children's Hospital and is a Philadelphia Union super fan! Him and his family braved the cold and enjoyed a Union win for our home opener on March 1st.

Brynn Busby was able to deliver the match ball for the Union's contest against Nashville SC on March 16th. She is currently battling Stage 2 chronic kidney disease and urinary paralysis and recently had surgery in June performed by Chief Urologist Dr. Jennifer Hagerty. Brynn's team of specialists from Nemours have helped her have an amazing quality of life and become the vibrant young girl that she is today without restrictions or limitations!

On March 22nd, Mario Aycart was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the match against St. Louis CITY SC. Mario is eight years old and receives primary and audiology care at Nemours Children's Hospital. He is a big soccer fan and plays soccer for Delaware FC! He was able to enjoy the match field side with his sibling and family.

On April 5th, Kaeley Saylor was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the match against Orlando City SC. Kaeley received in-patient and out-patient care through the CORPS program at Nemours due to a severe traumatic brain injury that she sustained when she was struck by a vehicle in 2024.

Pablo Segura-Maldonado was our Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for April 19t9 against Orlando City SC. Pablo Segura-Maldonado! Pablo has been treated at Nemours since birth due to asthma and had ACL and meniscus surgery late January after a soccer injury.

On April 26th, Piper Kleban-Harden was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the match against D.C. United. Piper celebrated at the match the three-year anniversary of her life changing VBT surgery, correcting her rare form of scoliosis that she was diagnosed with at birth.

On May 7th, Declan Merchant Saylor was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the US Open Cup contest against Indy Eleven. Declan is a patient at Nemours Children’s Health, where he underwent orthopedic surgery performed by Dr Wayne Shrader. He is currently completing physical and occupational therapy under the direction of Dr McManus and her rehab team! Lets hear it for Declan.

On May 10th, Logan Cone was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against Columbus Crew. Logan celebrated his 3 year anniversary of spinal fusion surgery in June. He was diagnosed with Spondylothesis at the age of 9 and underwent spinal fusion surgery at the age of twelve. He wants to thank Dr. Shah for giving him and his family hope when they needed it most. Now today he’s able to do all the things he loves especially playing baseball and basketball.

On May 14th, Kayla Miller was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against LA Galaxy. Kayla has been an orthopedic patient with Nemours since 2021 after facing several knee injuries including meniscus surgery and multiple ACL reconstructions. Kayla's fierce love for sports, especially soccer, has helped her continue to push forward, fighting and proving that setbacks are just part of the comeback. Her journey is a powerful testament of her strength, bravery, and love for the game!

On May 24th, Raphael Garcia-Gomez was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against Inter Miami CF. Raphael needed a special bottle as an infant and Nemours provided him with all required medical supplies. The hospital staff took great care of him and all of his needs throughout his visits. The team at Nemours was very caring, knowledgeable, and supportive to him and his family and they are grateful to Nemours for making better lives for children with special needs.

On June 7th, Liam Steel served as the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's friendly against Atlas FC. Liam is a 10 year old who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of IgA Nephrotic Syndrome in 2023. He went into kidney and heart failure which required him to be treated for three months in the CICU at Nemours Childrens Hospital. During that time he needed dialysis 6 days a week and in November of 2024 he underwent a successful kidney transplant and is now doing well and back at school.

On June 17th, Marco Schiano-Dicola was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against Charlotte FC. Marco is 11 and loves to play soccer and will be playing fall travel soccer for inter Philly FC. Marco has been under the amazing care of Dr Suken Shah at Nemours Orthopedics.Thanks to his expertise, Marco is able to further his soccer playing and skills. His family is very thankful for everything Dr. Shah and Nemours orthopedics has done for him as the top children’s health system.

On July 12th, Craig Moravec participated as the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against the New York Red Bulls. Craig has a rare genetic condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta which is a condition that causes bones to fracture or break easily. After a quick transfer to Nemours Children’s hospital at 6 months old he was able to start a necessary IV treatment to increase the bone density and lessen pain experienced from past fractures.

On July 16th, Aiden Perso was the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against CF Montreal. Born with a disability called Arthrogryposis, he was adopted at age two and his family searched for a care team near home in the Midwest. They heard about the Arthrogryposis team at Nemours and traveled to meet them in 2016 and the level of care was far beyond what they had experienced at other children’s hospitals that they moved to the east coast the following year so Aiden could receive care from his Nemours doctors

On July 26th, Willow Miller was celebrated as the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid as the Union took the Colorado Rapids. Will is nine and has been a patient with Nemours since she was in utero. When Willow was born she was diagnosed with a kidney disorder which let to recurring UTIs. In 2019 she had her left kidney removed at Nemours and the following year she had two procedures that changed her life forever.

On August 9th, Bryan Armour Jr was honored as the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid for the Union's match against Toronto FC. For 15-year-old Bryan, his journey toward better health has been a collaborative effort powered by determination and expert care. Diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, Bryan has faced challenges his entire life, but as he’s gotten older it’s been his obesity related fatigue that has significantly affected and limited his daily activities. With the support from his family and the dedicated team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Bryan is now thriving.

On August 23rd, PJ Young was honored at the Union's match against Chicago Fire FC as the Nemours Match Ball Delivery Kid. In April 2024, PJ was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. PJ initially spent nearly a month at Nemours and during that time his care team of Dr. Gluck and Dr. Lang, worked around the clock to find a diagnosis and provide PJ with life saving medications and blood transfusions.