Nine-year-old Riley Wheaton is visiting with PaulSkenes as part of the Make-A-Wish program today. He's joined by his father, Brad, his mother, Kristina, and brother, Brady.
Riley is receiving the full VIP treatment today: He shagged some fly balls, threw a bullpen with Skenes as his catcher -- his favorite of the day's activities -- and will throw out the first pitch prior to tonight's game against the Tigers.
"It was awesome," Skenes said. "Just the amount of adversity that Riley has dealt with from just a young age -- he's nine -- really puts things in perspective. It's cool to be able to provide an experience for him and for his family. I hope they enjoyed it."
Riley, who traveled with his family to Pittsburgh from Maine, was life-flighted to Boston Children's Hospital after being found in complete heart failure and then formally diagnosed with myocarditis in October 2024. He received five chest tubes in four months to remove fluid from around his heart and lungs.
In January, a biopsy of pericardium came back positive for Angiosarcoma, which oncologists described as rare, aggressive and terminal. After six rounds of chemotherapy, imaging revealed Riley was in remission. His heart function is currently back to normal, permitting him to regain energy and strength to get back on the baseball field. He currently plays for a 10U travel baseball team.
“Just the fact that he’s here with us, not in heart failure, not going through chemo treatments and out of the hospital and just being the tough, rugged kid that he is and just all the prayers for us to be here today just on this earth is amazing in itself," Kristina said. "For him to be able to have this wish fulfilled, this is just something we’re going to remember as a family forever."
Here's the full six minutes spent with Riley, Brad and Kristina:
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
6:15 pm - 07.22.2025North ShoreSkenes makes wish come true for young fan
Nine-year-old Riley Wheaton is visiting with Paul Skenes as part of the Make-A-Wish program today. He's joined by his father, Brad, his mother, Kristina, and brother, Brady.
Riley is receiving the full VIP treatment today: He shagged some fly balls, threw a bullpen with Skenes as his catcher -- his favorite of the day's activities -- and will throw out the first pitch prior to tonight's game against the Tigers.
"It was awesome," Skenes said. "Just the amount of adversity that Riley has dealt with from just a young age -- he's nine -- really puts things in perspective. It's cool to be able to provide an experience for him and for his family. I hope they enjoyed it."
Riley, who traveled with his family to Pittsburgh from Maine, was life-flighted to Boston Children's Hospital after being found in complete heart failure and then formally diagnosed with myocarditis in October 2024. He received five chest tubes in four months to remove fluid from around his heart and lungs.
In January, a biopsy of pericardium came back positive for Angiosarcoma, which oncologists described as rare, aggressive and terminal. After six rounds of chemotherapy, imaging revealed Riley was in remission. His heart function is currently back to normal, permitting him to regain energy and strength to get back on the baseball field. He currently plays for a 10U travel baseball team.
“Just the fact that he’s here with us, not in heart failure, not going through chemo treatments and out of the hospital and just being the tough, rugged kid that he is and just all the prayers for us to be here today just on this earth is amazing in itself," Kristina said. "For him to be able to have this wish fulfilled, this is just something we’re going to remember as a family forever."
Here's the full six minutes spent with Riley, Brad and Kristina:
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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