Yankees Visit 7-Year-Old Fan Awaiting Heart Transplant

When Walker Farrington showed up at Boston Children's Hospital dressed head to toe in a Yankees uniform, he brought a piece of home to enemy territory. The 7-year-old from Westchester County, New York, born with a congenital heart defect, is waiting for a heart transplant that his mother calls "Walker's miracle heart."

His Yankees pride caught the team's attention on social media. That led to surprise visits from players Ben Rice, Cam Schlittler, and Will Warren this week while the team was in Boston to play the Red Sox.

Rice stopped by on Monday's off-day to meet Walker and other young patients. "It just puts things into perspective for you," Rice said. "You see what this little guy and his family are going through. For him to still have such a great attitude and be so positive, it was really cool to see."

Walker had important questions for his visitors. He asked Rice about his favorite food (pancakes) and who the team's best dancer is (José Caballero, apparently).

Manager Aaron Boone brought Walker's homemade poster to Fenway Park on Thursday. The sign, which read "Play Like a Warrior Today" with a heart image, was taped near the exit so every Yankee could see it on their way to the field.

"Walker's family was awesome," Boone said. "He's got a lot of personality, and he's super upbeat. It was just fun hanging around with him."

After Tuesday's game, Walker climbed to the hospital roof with his mother. Though sore and tired from a heart catheterization procedure, he still shouted "Go Yankees!" into a small megaphone toward Fenway Park.

Sunny's Take

Walker and his parents face 12 to 18 months of patient living at Boston Children's Hospital while they wait for his new heart. Rice now wears a red bracelet Walker gave him, a small reminder that someone's watching and cheering. "We know he's watching the games," Rice said.

Even from a hospital bed in Red Sox country, one young fan is showing everyone what it means to play like a warrior.