OMAHA, NE, (WBTW) Although Monday was an off-day for Coastal Carolina at the College World Series, the Chanticleers were still busy.

The open atrium at Nebraska Medicine is a perfect pop-up stadium. The upper deck or the upper floor is full of fans to watch this game.

“Our players do a great job with community service so this is right up their ally,” CCU Athletic Director Matt Hogue said.

A wave of pom-poms or a crack of the bat is a welcome break from the regular hospital routine.

“I got to play baseball,” 12 year old patient Elena joyously proclaimed. “I got to hit and run the bases because they took the time and effort to get out here and play with us.”

“When you come here you get goosebumps and chills, it’s just a great feeling,” Coastal Carolina Baseball player Anthony Marks said. “Just to be able to put a smile on their face it’s great.”

This visit to this hospital means so much more to a few members of the Chanticleer family.“

“I think you get through it with a lot of prayer, rely on our faith,” Hogue said of a time ten years ago.

The Hogue Family returns to Nebraska Medicine as visitors and not as patients. Daughter Caroline was born with non-functioning intestines. Her body couldn’t process food normally and she was fed through an IV. Caroline needed a small bowel transplant to survive.

“At the time, only three hospitals in the entire country could help her,” says Caroline’s mother, Laura Hogue. “When we flew to Omaha and visited Nebraska Medicine, we knew this was exactly the place our daughter needed to be.”

Laura and Caroline moved to Omaha and waited five months for a match. During that time, Laura’s husband and older daughter remained in South Carolina. On September 8, 2006, Nebraska Medicine transplant surgeon Wendy Grant, MD, performed a small bowel transplant on then 1-year-old Caroline. Following the procedure, Caroline and Laura stayed in Omaha for another five months while Caroline recovered.

“We call Omaha our ‘home away from home,’” adds Laura.

“It’s really hard to process that we’re here,” Caroline Hogue said of returning to the place of her surgery and getting a hug from the same doctor that performed that surgery. “I haven’t seen some of them in ten years so it’s good to see them ”

“It’s a tough thing that we do, it’s a tough thing that we go through and the family goes through,” Caroline’s surgeon Dr. Wendy J. Grant said. “It’s not always successful, so to see her walking through with the team and to see her on the TV.”

It’s a moment Caroline wanted to share with her favorite team, one that makes their first ever visit to the College World Series. A walk back down the halls of this hospital is a perfect addition to an already dream trip to College Baseball’s biggest stage.

“To brighten the day of some kids that are going through a tough time and we understand precisely what that journey’s all about,” Matt Hogue said.

A simple game of catch is a moment shared with new found heroes. Hand shakes and high fives become embracing hugs.  All in a perfect day at this makeshift ballpark. 

Nebraska Medicine is home to one of the most reputable and well-known organ transplant programs in the country. Since 1970, its nationally and internationally renowned specialists have performed thousands of heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung and intestinal transplants. Nebraska Medicine is one of a few institutions nationwide to offer all solid organ transplants under one roof.

Approximately 121,000 people in the United States are currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Due to the shortage of registered donors, about 22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. Registering to be an organ donor has a great impact. A single donor can save or enhance up to 60 lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. For more information on becoming a donor, visit Donate Life.