Ducks Make Holiday Visit to CHOC Children's

Julio Godoy Jr. had been waiting nearly a year for the perfect opportunity to get his hockey puck signed by an Anaheim Ducks player.
After attending his first Ducks hockey game at Honda Center last December, he got a puck and kept it safely tucked away until just the right moment.

That moment came earlier this week when Ducks players Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Francois Beauchemin, Antoine Vermette and Brandon Montour walked into his patient room at CHOC Children's Hospital. Julio didn't get just one Ducks player to sign his puck - he got five.
"I got to meet the players from the Ducks, and it was really good," Julio said with a grin. "They signed my puck that I got at the game. It made my day."
The visit was part of the club's effort to spread some holiday cheer this season to kids and families receiving care at CHOC. As part of the 12th annual Kits for Kids Donation Drive, Ducks players made room-to-room visits in several patient care areas, delivering Wild Wingers Kids Club kits, blankets and smiles to the kids.
Surrounded by his parents and three younger siblings, 11-year old Julio chatted with his special visitors about hockey, injuries and persevering through unforeseen obstacles. For Julio, that obstacle has been a four-year battle with aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder in which the body stops producing enough red blood cells.

The only potential cure for Julio's disease is a bone marrow transplant from a donor who is a 100% match. After an exhaustive search that included both family members and The Bone Marrow Foundation donor registry, Julio found that match in his 2-1/2 year old sister, Gloria. The two underwent the life-saving procedure on November 22, and thanks to CHOC and his little sister, Julio is now on the road to recovery.
The recovery process will keep Julio at CHOC through Christmas, when his younger siblings, including Gloria, will not be allowed to visit him due to the hospital's flu season restrictions. That is one of the many reason's Julio's parents were grateful for the Ducks' visit.
"It's emotional, it will be the first Christmas we won't be together," said Julio's mother, Maria. "But it's nice to know there are people out there who can come and brighten up my son's day."

Julio's father, Julio Sr., saw the joy in his son's face and how much it meant to him to receive words of encouragement from professional athletes.
"It was awesome. There are no other words I can think of. They were great guys," Julio Sr. said. "They took their own time to come and visit people who are having a tough time. We're just grateful for CHOC's help and support. The whole team here is great, and they are there when we need them."
Having made several visits to CHOC during the holidays to spend time with the kids and their families, Beauchemin acknowledged that the opportunity is both challenging and rewarding.
"It's never an easy day for us, walking around and seeing all of these kids and what they're dealing with," said the veteran defenseman. "Sometimes you get emotional seeing these kids sick, but it makes you appreciate life a lot more. It's just a good time for us to make their day, put a few smiles on their faces and give them some joy in those hard times."

Vermette agreed that as a father, experiences like these bring a new level of perspective to the holiday season and to life itself.
"It's very rewarding to see the impact and the way it can affect families," Vermette said. "It's tough to describe what these kids are going through, but we see them forget about their own situation for a little bit. It's emotional in some ways, but it's great that we're doing this. It's not about the presents. It's beyond that. It's nice to share our time with them. That's the most important thing."
After an inspiring visit from his hockey heroes, Julio said that getting out on the ice after his recovery was not out of the question. No matter what sport he plays, the Godoy family is looking forward to brighter days ahead and a more normal childhood for their first born.
"When all of this is hopefully over and done with…I told him to look forward to his future," Maria said. "This is just a minor setback. He will continue to get better."
For more information on the 12th annual Kits for Kids Donation Drive, where fans have the opportunity to purchase and donate kits that will be delivered to patients at CHOC during the month of December, visit
anaheimducks.com/choc
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