The girl from Heemskerk wrote Weghorst a beautiful letter from the hospital. After an impressive account of what had happened to her, Voorbij ended her letter with: ''From the hospital I can see the stadium. I hope to watch you play there one day. Love, Isabella Voorbij.''
Her letter did not go unnoticed, as the ADO’20 right winger found out when Weghorst came to visit her with a lovely gift. Together with her little sister, Voorbij even kicked a ball around with her favourite Ajax player in her hospital room. ''I found it quite nerve-racking, but I’m really glad I got to meet him,'' said the brave North Holland girl, looking back on her meeting with Weghorst. ''It creates a nice memory of the Emma Children’s Hospital. When I come back here for a check-up or a test, I’ll think of the good moments.''
Like Weghorst, many more Amsterdam-based footballers offered the children a welcome distraction on Monday. The Amsterdam footballers provided distraction and a welcome break from the daily routine within the hospital walls. The smiling faces of the children clearly had a positive effect on the Ajax players from coaches Oscar García and Anouk Bruil. By handing out autographs and small Ajax gifts, the players aimed to give the children a brief escape from their worries.
The squad was split into eight groups, each visiting different paediatric wards at Emma. There, they met both very young patients and older children. Experienced players such as Davy Klaassen and Steven Berghuis have visited the hospital on several occasions on behalf of the club, which is involved in community initiatives through the Ajax Foundation. For (relatively) new arrivals such as Maarten Paes and Oscar Gkloukh, the visit marked their first experience of this tradition.
At the Ajax Playground inside the hospital, football was played. Meanwhile, staff members from both squads shared tips and tricks with the children. Many parents also experienced a memorable afternoon. Urby Emanuelson and Loïs Schenkel were present as ambassadors of the Ajax Foundation and also contributed to the visit.
After taking countless photos and signing shirts, balls and other items, the players said their goodbyes. Up until the very last moment, hugs were exchanged. With smiles all around, the children and their families were left with a brief moment of relief, able to refocus on recovery and the road ahead.
