Gurnee boy is Honorary Bat Kid at Cubs game
Recently, 7-year-old Tony Arce of Gurnee had a blast at a Chicago Cubs game as an Advocate Health Care Honorary Bat Kid.
Tony is a huge Cubs fan, and was excited to hang out in the dugout, be on the field and meet a few of the players. Watching the game and seeing his favorites, Rizzo, Bryant and Baez, made quite a memory for Tony and his family.
Tony was born prematurely at Advocate Condell Medical Center and was later diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a rare disease affecting 1 in 3,000 each year.
AMC causes Tony's joints to flex and lock in a bent position, severely restricting movement. Because he cannot move well or inhale deeply, a minor cough often turns into pneumonia. He spends a great deal of time in the hospital for surgeries to straighten his joints and to get better after an illness.
Tony has regular physical and occupational therapy in the Pediatric Alternatives in Creative Therapy program at Advocate Condell, which helps him to extend and flex his hands, arms, and legs from his most recent surgery. The goal is for Tony to walk flat-footed with straight knees.
His determined mom, Jessenia, and his team at Advocate Condell work hard every day to get him there.