The Official Site of Hanley Ramirez

Wed, Jul 29th 2009, 09:26

Hanley meets young cancer patient

Not too long ago, Jackie and Dennis Camacho weren’t even sure how long their son would be alive.

Back on June 24, 2008, 9-year-old Sebastian Camacho was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and his parents immediately thought the worst.

“Honestly, when we found out, we thought it was terminal,” Jackie Camacho said.

Now, though, not only is Sebastian in remission and cancer-free, but he was healthy as a fish while gliding on the field at Land Shark Stadium before the opener of a three-game series against the Braves on Tuesday.

He even played himself up to the level of superstar Hanley Ramirez.

Sebastian, who was a special visitor of Ramirez’s as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, got his own locker in the Marlins’ clubhouse — right next to the Marlins’ shortstop — a personalized No. 11 jersey, batting gloves and an authentic “H2R” Ramirez fielding glove.

“You’ve got a lot of wishes, and when you have a chance to make one of those kids’ dreams come true, I think that’s an awesome feeling for me,” Ramirez said.

“I’m the guy who can make his wish come true. ... I can’t wait to take him on the field and show him around.”

Mere minutes later, that’s exactly what Ramirez did.

Sebastian — who underwent chemotherapy from June to December, then radiation treatment in January and February at nearby Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital — played catch along the first-base line with Ramirez, took part in batting practice on the field — which he said was his favorite part — and even stood at shortstop to field a grounder and turn a 6-4-3 double play with Ramirez as his second baseman.

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