I wish to meet the Seattle Mariners

Seton

11

respiratory disorder

Seton sitting in a stadium — AKWA

Mariners Hit it Out of the Park for Wish Kid Seton

When most kids awake, their standard routine looks like this: shower, get dressed, brush teeth, eat breakfast, and head out to school. That’s true for 11-year-old Seton, but he also takes 4 puffs of his albuterol inhaler, spends 30 minutes in his “shaker vest,” uses a nebulizer that administers two separate breathing treatments, ingests supplemental nutrition from his feeding tube, and takes 9-10 pills.

Seton with nebulizer

He undergoes that same routine before bed and takes several additional enzymes and medications throughout the day.

He does this 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Living with medical complexity is just normal life for Seton and his family.

Diagnosed with a life-threatening respiratory condition in utero, Seton was born by emergency c-section due to a complication frequently experienced by children with his condition. He spent his first two weeks of life undergoing treatments and living in the NICU. He was later diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disorder that adds another layer of complication to his prognosis.

Despite a lifetime of doctor’s appointments and taking life-saving medication and treatments daily, Seton and his family lead typical lives. And what could be more typical than enjoying the American pastime of baseball?

But for Seton, baseball is more than just a game. It’s a form of emotional and physical therapy that helps get him through the trials and tribulations of his life.

Seton in an orange uniform holding a baseball bat

Seton is passionate about baseball and plays on his competitive 11U team fielding balls on the infield. “Baseball gives him a community of close friends and fosters a sense of pride that he can compete despite his daily challenges,” said Sarah and Jeff, his mom and dad. “It motivates him to continue with his nutritional and respiratory care even when he doesn’t feel like it.  Physically, baseball helps with lung capacity, aerobic fitness, and muscle building.  All of which contribute to better health outcomes.”

This game has truly become the center of their family’s life. “We watch baseball together 162 nights of the year,” said Jeff. And what team do they watch? The Mariners, of course!

Seton loves to watch baseball at the highest level, seeing his favorite M’s on the diamond-- JP Crawford, Logan Gilbert and Julio Rodriguez. But, he also has a fascination with player and game stats and loves listening to the commentators and reporters banter about the game that has given him so much.  

So, it’s hard to believe that when Make-A-Wish volunteers first presented the idea of a wish to him, he drew a blank. “I’m not sure he understood what was being offered, or what was possible,” his parents said. “I think that it can be hard sometimes for kids with serious medical conditions to let themselves dream big. Dreams and wishes are fed by imagination and hope, and for kids like Seton, those can be tough to reconcile with reality.”

"Dreams and wishes are fed by imagination and hope, and for kids like Seton, those can be tough to reconcile with reality.”

— Seton's Parents

Just like players take a while to warm up at the plate, so did Seton before articulating his wish to meet the Mariners!

Now, Seton’s wish to meet his favorite MLB team is coming true. His two-day wish kicks off at the M’s Home Opener on March 28th. In front of a sold-out homestand, he’ll kick off the opening festivities with a time-honored tradition between Make-A-Wish and the Mariners. Donning his own M’s team uniform, he’ll round the bases and meet some of his favorite players for high-fives and a photo opp before they take to the field and he and his parents venture to their A-list seats to watch the game.

The next day, it’s back to the ballpark but this time to meet the players, watch them warm up, tour the clubhouse, sit in the dugout, and enjoy some other perks. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of and Seton can’t wait.

It is hard to put into words the depth of gratitude we as parents feel when another person, a stranger, is willing to do so much to bring joy to their child,” said his parents. 

Feeling inspired? We’d love for you to join our Make-A-Wish roster and become a WishMaker. Take our quiz to see what’s the best fit for you.

Special thanks to his volunteers Natalie Wright, Kristen and Jake Helle, and the Seattle Mariners.

Did you know that more than 80% of our wishes involve airline travel?
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