Formerly the "Miracle League," the Miracle Kids of South Texas are disabled and special needs children who have a desire to participate in sports. Beginning with baseball, these kids and their "buddies" prove that they are all winners! Harlingen Futures Tournament Supports Miracle Kids of South Texas The Harlingen Futures Tournament contributed $3,000 to support our Miracle Kids and held a special tennis clinic at the conclusion of the tournament. Miracle League fills special needs Donations, love make baseball possible for some Valley children  By VANESA SALINAS Reprinted with permission. Valley Morning Star, March 31, 2002 HARLINGEN-- Nineteen children with special needs ranging from Down syndrome to muscular dystrophy were in uniform playing baseball Saturday making the crowd in the bleachers go wild. The children were all smiles as they played. For some, this was their first attempt at baseball. Sitting in a wheelchair, 9-year-old Kaila Silva said that she loves sports "because it makes you get a good exercise." Like other children, Silva had been waiting for this moment for a long time. There was no nervousness for the girl from Harlingen; on the contrary, she was filled with excitement. "I will hit the ball real hard and make a home run," she said. Silva, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was accompanied by her twin sister Faith Silva and their mother Lou Silva. Faith Silva was her sister's buddy. Each child had a buddy who would help and guide them through the field as they played. Silva, accompanied by her sister, was ready to bat. Strike one. Strike two. And then the ball was gone.

As soon as Kaila Silva connected with the ball, Faith Silva grabbed the wheelchair and ran as fast as she could to first base. "Be ready Kaila!" volunteers cheered from the side of the field as she made it to third base. "You go girl!" As the next batter approached the base, Kaila held her hands together with anticipation. As soon as she saw the bat hit the ball, she threw her hands up in the air and her sister rushed her to home base. Kaila Silva's happiness and excitement could be plainly seen as she smiled and waved. "It was amazing," Silva said after scoring a point. She also thanked her twin sister for helping her out on the field. "I know this is her goal in life to be in sports," Lou Silva said of her daughter. Dina Rodriguez, chairwoman for Miracle League, said that this organization was formed in November by Valley Baptist Health System and the Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department to give children with special needs a chance to play in their first baseball game. The organization prepared for the anticipated game for several months. They had to find a field that was wheelchair accessible, volunteer buddies and equipment that would best fit the children's needs, such as flat bases and lightweight bats. Rodriguez said that the event was made possible by donations. Uniforms were also provided to the children. The inspiration for the formation of the league is Rodriguez's son, Andre Fernando, who struggled with Down syndrome. He died last year. Zarek Elizondo is a 5-year-old boy from Los Indios who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy. Like Silva, he was anxious to start the game because his day to play baseball had finally arrived. "He got up this morning and first thing he said was we need to have breakfast of champs,' which is McDonald's," said his father Joe John Elizondo.
 

The second Miracle Kids event was a special double-header played at Harlingen Field, home of the Rio Grande Valley Whitewings, on October 19, 2002. If you would like to support the Miracle Kids or know of someone who would like to play, please call the Valley Baptist Foundation at 389-1614.