I want to share this letter with you. It was very moving. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Joe


Joe,
My name is Chris Hayes and I came up to you this afternoon to thank you for taking the time to come speak to us today. I was inspired by what you said and took not only your message about good decisions (specifically buckling up), but also the reminder to be incredibly grateful for the opportunities and blessings we often take for granted.One of my best friends in High School didn't have nearly the traumatic injury you sustained, but he did have a malignant tumor on his C4 and C5's so when they did surgery to remove it, he had to wear a halo for almost a year. To this day, he has no mobility in his neck and suffers some of the same issues it seems you deal with on a daily basis. I know how hard it was for him, and can only imagine what it is like on a kid. I know you mentioned a number of times you in many ways live vicariously through us, but

I wanted to share a few thoughts I had.I have two main goals with my baseball career. The first is to win a World Championship with the Royals. Secondly, I want to be able to reach out to people and help them in any way I can with the additional exposure and notoriety being a baseball player brings. The story you told of Frank White made me yearn for a day when I can brighten a kids life if only a fraction as much as Frank was able to with you. Neither of my goals have been reached yet, so today, when you were delivering your message, I had to experience my second goal vicariously through you. I can't imagine the frustration it must be, probably even to this day, to know God blessed you with the ability to play for the Royals and then have it escape in the blink of an eye. But today I hope you take pride in the fact that you have risen above all the adversity and been able to reach out to people and benefit their lives in such large numbers. I admire you equally for your recovery and for your ability to deliver such a message to so many people. As far as my second goal, I'll say it again, today I was living vicariously through you.When it comes to my first goal of winning a World Championship with the Royals, I know perhaps nothing will be able to replace actually being there on the field, but I hope you will feel like you are as much a part of it as the players on the field. I meant what I said today about our organization going in the right direction. I honestly believe it and plan on being in KC in the near future to help the team win it all. When that amazing October evening comes, I hope I get a chance to come in for a few late inning outs. And when it does, you will be on the field with me in my thoughts. You said something today along the lines of "No matter how tense or stressful the situation in the biggest game, just think of me and know that I would do anything to be in that situation."
Again, I know you'd rather be in my shoes than in yours when that time comes, but I hope when it does, you feel like you are right there in the game. Regardless of who's on the mound or at bat in that game, they will have your message in the back of their head whether they know it or not.I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given in my life. What you said today was a great reminder and strengthened my gratitude. I very much look forward to reaching both the goals I have within baseball, I hope you realize you have already achieved my second and I look forward to being able to "share" the first with you in the near future.Take care and again, thank you.

Chris Hayes