NFL players with Utah ties visit kids at Primary Children's Hospital

NFL players with Utah ties visit kids at Primary Children's Hospital

(Weston Kenney, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — What happens when a group of NFL players walk into Primary Children's Hospital?

Smiles, fist bumps and a couple dozen selfie requests from the toddlers and teenagers being treated there.

The NFL players gathered at the hospital Friday morning at the request of D.J. Tialavea, Atlanta Falcons tight end and co-founder of the Don Tialavea Foundation, which sponsored the event.

"We may go through what we think is hard, but when we’re around these kids, it puts things in perspective,” Tialavea said.

Kids entered the playroom Friday on crutches, in wheelchairs or walking with IV poles to meet with the players, who chatted and played with them.

Colby Bryant, 11, said he loves the Carolina Panthers and was just excited to talk to the football players.

Atlanta Falcons' D.J. Tialavea Tialavea, left, says hello to Colby Bryant, 11, at an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)
Atlanta Falcons' D.J. Tialavea Tialavea, left, says hello to Colby Bryant, 11, at an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)

"They’re cool. They’re nice, too,” he said. "It’s better than staying in your room.”

"It’s awesome to come here and hang out with some of these kids, get to know some of them and just lighten up their day a little bit,” said Haloti Ngata, Detroit Lions defensive tackle from Salt Lake City.

Each of the NFL players who visited the hospital was raised in Utah or had played for a Utah university.

Detroit Lions' Haloti Ngata and Laila Maloney, 2, play with dolls during an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News
Detroit Lions' Haloti Ngata and Laila Maloney, 2, play with dolls during an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News

New England Patriots defensive lineman A.J. Pataiali'i, who grew up in West Valley City and graduated from Utah State University, said his 5-year-old son has been treated at Primary Children's Hospital before.

"He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes Nov. 2 of last year. So we’re familiar with this hospital," Pataiali'i said. "I wanted to come give back to the kids. This is a special moment for me and my son because we’ve been here before."

Tialavea, who grew up in West Jordan, has a younger sister who suffers from cerebral palsy. He took extra care to call each of the kids he visited by their names.

"If we’re just answering questions, that’s cool," he said. “But I feel like when you do call them by name, it’s kind of like ‘he’s talking directly to me.’”

Tialavea and Nick Thompson co-founded the Don Tialavea Foundation to help kids in impoverished countries after Thompson, an EMT, visited Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. After spending a week there, Thompson said he knew he wanted to continue helping kids.

"It’s a good feeling getting to know that you’re changing kids’ lives, especially in the medical field," he said.

Thompson said he has also traveled to Honduras, Iraq and the Dominican Republic to give medical care and supplies to kids and their families.

“It’s showing these kids that other people do care about them," Thompson said. "I think it’s a big deal that they see these NFL players here that are taking time out of their day to be with these kids and talk to them."

Atlanta Falcons' D.J. Tialavea, left, answers questions at an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)
Atlanta Falcons' D.J. Tialavea, left, answers questions at an event where Utah-based players got to interact with patients at the Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Photo: Weston Kenney, Deseret News)

At the hospital, the NFL players even sat through a short "press conference" that was broadcast to patients who weren't able to visit the playroom. Kids were able to call in their questions to be asked to the players.

Questions ranged from favorite Disney moves to if they liked sports outside of football to how they dealt with hard times in their lives.

Ethan Hamblin, 15, said he wants to someday play college football after his leg recovers from surgery.

"Before I came in here, I was doubtful. I’m kind of small to play football," he said. "But it’s really inspiring talking to the other football players."

"They’re such angels," Tialavea said about the kids. "I'm so glad we came."

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