"She was just so excited to tell everybody in the hospital or everybody around that her big brother was playing on TV," Richie said."I think it was a distraction for just such a miserable time in our lives. But most importantly, it brought joy to Ella, it brought happiness.
"I don't know how many coaches would have done everything that [Sweeney] did through that time with her," Bresee said."... The moment that Ella had to go to the hospital, him and his wife were the first people there with our family. Just things like that, that we'll never forget." "I was getting pretty sick up to that game and my family was there," he said."There was a lot going on. It was real emotional. Just thinking about how my whole life, Ella has been there in the stands, supporting me, watching the game.As life resumed, and the attention shifted, things got quieter. It was those times that hit Bresee the hardest.
Bresee had dreamed of a moment like this since he was 5 years old. He had all his favorite people around to support him.When asked what Ella would have thought of that moment, her parents had to pause for a long moment to collect themselves.