Jolly old Jayhawks

KU, Houston players brighten spirits while visiting ailing Texas children

? His name is Mick Brown, a 3-year-old boy from Arlington bedridden because of a spiral fracture of his right femur – suffered playing football.

His mother has had two good nights of sleep in three weeks because of the pain Mick suffers at night. Mick will be in a body cast soon. His leg, with a pin through it, is suspended over his body.

And yet, his spirits were higher than the sky Wednesday.

Several Kansas University and Houston football players visited kids at Cook Children’s Hospital, signing autographs, handing out presents and, maybe most importantly, giving the children something to smile about during a trying time in their young lives.

“It’s a great experience,” quarterback Kerry Meier said. “It’s a privilege to come out here and meet these kids. There are some very incredible human beings.”

Meier was joined by fellow freshmen Justin Thornton, Caleb Blakesley, Jeff Wheeler and Angus Quigley on Wednesday at Cook. Together, they visited dozens of kids with a variety of ailments, took pictures with them and kept them company for roughly an hour.

Standing off to the side, Nadine Schulz watched wearing Jayhawk earrings, a Jayhawk pin, Jayhawk scrubs and a smile. A registered nurse at Cook, Schulz graduated from KU’s school of nursing and looked on as her favorite team interacted with some of her patients.

“I’m very proud of the Jayhawks for coming here,” said Schulz, who to attend Friday’s Fort Worth Bowl. “I’m thrilled they’d take time out of their schedule to come here and visit the kids.”

The Fort Worth Bowl sets up the charity visit with Cook every year. But it’s tough to figure out who benefits more – the children needing something to look forward to, or the student-athletes gaining perspective on the less-fortunate side of life.

“It’s a tough situation,” Meier said. “As long as they keep their heart and keep fighting, they’ll make it through.”