The Iowa Hawkeyes have built a hospital for children that faces the stadium. Only children in the hospital and their families are allowed in that area of the hospital during game day. After the first quarter of the game they ask the entire stadium to turn around and wave to the children. While it is only a few minutes of the players’ and fans’ time, it provides support, hope, connection and recognition for all of those families and their children who are suffering. Simply knowing that others care brings some respite. In Hebrew, the word for “hand” is “yad”, but the word for “friend” is yadid, which is comprised of the word “yad” twice. This shows how when one waving hand connects to another waving hand, it creates friendship and for these children and families, knowing they have 80,000 friends out there is quite transformative.
