Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Five pediatric patients from Advocate Children’s Hospital were the biggest superstars Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The patients — ages 7 to 15 — were asked by several Chicago Cubs players and personnel to autograph custom Topps cards of themselves.
“It’s surreal,” said Liam McGarrity, a 12-year-old from Norridge who has struggled with chronic asthma. “One day if I want to be on a baseball card, I’ll already have my young [self’s] card.”
Liam was joined by Brea Murphy, a 15-year-old from Channahon diagnosed with lymphoma in 2024 and nearing the end of treatment; Caiden Ray, a 14-year-old from Mundelein who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 5; Messiah Hobbs, a 12-year-old from Chicago diagnosed with sickle cell disease when he was young; and Liam Herling, a 7-year-old also from Chicago diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2020.