AUTHOR: stejaycubs TITLE: Touching Dempster story DATE: 3:52:00 PM ----- BODY:

In an age where a group ballplayers and athletes in general seem to think of number 1, and no-one else, not naming names *ahem* Mr Woods, Mr Bonds *ahem*, there is a touching story to note. This is of Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. Dempster has a 10month old daughter, Riley, who has been fighting a disease called DiGeorge syndrome for the entirety of her short life. DiGeorge syndrome is a disease where genes are simply lost, and this causes catastrophic effects on the immune system, physical abnormities, and potential heart defects. 86% of infants with the syndrome die before 6 months. Symptoms differ between patients, and in Riley's case, she is unable to swallow, and needs a feeding tube. As you can guess, as a child of a pro sportsman, as Dempster puts it, "Shes' a tough little fighter". A touching tale, from a player who has had his problems. Moved to the pen for three years, as a closer, and last year, as a starter, went 11-9, with a 3.65 ERA. In 2008, he went 17-6. As you can see, he has improved. Now with extra motivation, he seems to think his little angel can help him in tough spots. “I definitely got a lot of motivation, a lot of inspiration from my daughter and from my family. For what we did go through you want to be a better baseball player.” And his daughter has given him a new outlook on life, saying, “I watch what she goes through on a daily basis and I know she’s tougher than everybody in here and a lot tougher than I am,” he said standing at his locker. “So she’s challenging me to be a lot better. That’s for sure. She inspires us. You know, watching. If you’re going through that, I can do anything. I really feel that way.”

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