So this week has been hectic. Not exactly sure why but, just a lot of running around from errand to errand and trying furiously to make a Super Bowl miracle happen. I know you all may think that means getting a Bronco win but a miracle to me just meant getting Daniel there.
In the meantime with the city in a fog of orange and blue everyone’s mind is on the Broncos and Daniel was called upon to participate in CHCO pep rally for staff and families meant to send off the team to victory. Actually the team left days ago in time to miss the snowstorm and it was just going to be some cheerleaders and the drumline and a couple alumni players. Daniel was asked to ask them a few questions. Just the night before we were notified who the players would be so Daniel could do a little prep work but always the consummate professional already had his football questions ready to go. As the snow started coming fast and furious the night before Daniel was looking forward to it being a snow day so that he wouldn’t have to miss any school for the rally. He was also prepping to do a pre-super bowl D[P]R in the afternoon, so we planned to be all day at the hospital with no actual hospital appointments. I just kept thinking this kid must really love what he is doing or why would he want to spend his whole snow day off at the hospital, but this is definitely where he wanted to be doing his thing.
As usual when we got to the hospital in time to prepare but of course he was ready and raring to go. With little need for instruction he left me holding the bag, literally, there I was standing in the crowd holding the bag along with an estimated crowd of 1000 people waiting and watching to cheer what was coming for the pep rally. I don’t know what he was doing behind the scenes but I wasted time with the two helicopter medics that were in his Broncos Go video who were assigned to keep the aisle clear for the incoming Broncos group. Speaking of the Broncos Go video, CHCO and the Broncos decided to rerelease his updated video online and in the past 36 hours (as I write this) I am overwhelmed to say it has over 1.6 MILLION views. Um, yes you read that correctly. 1.6M!!! I would say that is viral. This is one viral thing I am happy about. This is extremely exciting and so timely. I am so proud of this song and the hospital and Daniel, as much as Daniel can’t stand hearing it over and over (as most of us do of FROZEN songs) I know he doesn’t really like to be ‘known’ for the song. But he will admit (as you will see later) it has resulted in some pretty great things. So back to the rally. Things were warming up in the atrium and the crowd was starting to stir and the MC guy Zach from the hospital relations gets up to rev up the crowd (of which they needed none). This town is going Bronco crazy and CHCO probably has some of the biggest fans in Bronco’s Country. He welcomes everyone and then announces that there are some very special guest coming in and then the crowd parts for the three special guests Karl Mecklenburg(Legendary, Ring of Fame former Bronco) , Ebenezar Ekuban (never heard of this guy, but he was lovely and awesome with the crowd) and our very own Daniel Hailpern. Wha- and the three of them come down the open hallway to the stage. Amazing Daniel and these two massive men came through the crowd and took the three chairs on stage. Gil (our friend and CEO at CHCO) introduced the players and then led into a full blown welcome to Daniel, our resident superstar. He announced that Daniel is a patient and cancer survivor (1-I will refer to this later) and the ambassador and then he said you probably know he wrote the song Broncos Go. And I could almost see Daniel’s eyes roll back in his head. Then they said they were going to play a clip and I looked at him trying to get his attention to keep his cool. They played the whole dang song from start to finish, but this time his reaction was different. Everyone was watching it on big screens, but he was watching the crowd from the front of the stage. Almost a thousand people were singing along to his words. I bet that is what it feels to be a rock star. When his part on camera came on they all cheered for him and when the chorus came on they cheered and waved their rally towels and when the group seen came it was like an explosion of emotion for everyone. Everyone was beaming with pride and excitement and for the first time since way back when I think Daniel loved his song again and realized where it really brought him to. The Super Bowl being momentous for all of the fans is huge but this is a pinnacle moment for Daniel as he has gotten pretty close up to the action this year. After the song and cheering ended Gil announced Daniel was going to the superbowl and the crowd went wild. Then Daniel was asked to stand up and do what he does best and boy he did not disappoint. Although I did not know his questions in advance I had the utmost confidence he had this. He asked his questions to both players taking turns for about 10 minutes in front of about 1000 fans. Broncos fans and Daniel fans for sure. He held everyones attention and finished up with one final question (ala Color War) full of spirit: Who’s gonna win this Super Bowl? And the entire crowd went wild. Gil came on and appropriately said he had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time that Daniel was interviewing Broncos players. Magical. We followed up with some pictures and then as we were leaving several employees asked to take pictures of Daniel. Craziness.
After that we had lunch and swiftly moved into a fabulous D[P]R. It was a nice treat to have a few friends come and watch his show.
Night was spent watching all channels broadcast something about Daniel and the pep rally and over and over again 2, 3, 4 times I kept hearing Daniel Hailpern-Cancer Survivor and every time it was like a bright flash in my eyes, over and over again every time I heard it. This can’t be the first time I have heard this. Why was it just sinking in? I do nt understand it. I am getting teary. I thought I did my crying for the day when he was being cheered on by the entire hospital. Nope here I go again but now it was like a slap in the face. I know we still have residual concerns but as I write this I think I am processing that hearing he is a SURVIVOR means that I am ready to admit that he needs to move on to the next step in his healing. Are we past all of this? Hell No, but are we passed the worst part? I think I am ready to admit that there is no looking back and we are moving on to the rest of our lives. I have no idea why these broadcasters made this thought occur. Words are powerful.
Speaking of, this past weekend one of Daniel’s best friend’s brother finally got a chance to conduct his own audio interview of Daniel. Matan is in college and has his own radio broadcasting show. They have been trying to do this for some time. When Matan arrived Rob and I actually went out for lunch and left them alone. I know Matan is a good friend and Daniel was comfortable but didn’t realize how comfortable. Today I got to listen to the podcast. It was a huge mistake to listen to it while driving. I had no idea it would be what it was or I would react so viscerally. I have never heard Daniel share this much personally about how he felt about his illness and recovery. I knew he had it in him and as many times as reporters and anyone has asked I have never heard him express himself like this. I think I knew this is how he felt but hearing him say these words was so beautifully eloquent it was moving and mature beyond his years. Should I have expected any less of him. He has been through so much, how could he not be this grown up. I hate that. I hate that he has had to rush to this point. But is it any surprise that Daniel got to this realization of being a survivor a lot sooner than me. NO surprise I guess. He has become more mature than me at times. Please grab a box of tissues and enjoy Matan’s podcast interview.
https://m.soundcloud.com/motownlowdown-980157762/the-power-of-sports-with-daniel-hailpern
In the meantime with the city in a fog of orange and blue everyone’s mind is on the Broncos and Daniel was called upon to participate in CHCO pep rally for staff and families meant to send off the team to victory. Actually the team left days ago in time to miss the snowstorm and it was just going to be some cheerleaders and the drumline and a couple alumni players. Daniel was asked to ask them a few questions. Just the night before we were notified who the players would be so Daniel could do a little prep work but always the consummate professional already had his football questions ready to go. As the snow started coming fast and furious the night before Daniel was looking forward to it being a snow day so that he wouldn’t have to miss any school for the rally. He was also prepping to do a pre-super bowl D[P]R in the afternoon, so we planned to be all day at the hospital with no actual hospital appointments. I just kept thinking this kid must really love what he is doing or why would he want to spend his whole snow day off at the hospital, but this is definitely where he wanted to be doing his thing.
As usual when we got to the hospital in time to prepare but of course he was ready and raring to go. With little need for instruction he left me holding the bag, literally, there I was standing in the crowd holding the bag along with an estimated crowd of 1000 people waiting and watching to cheer what was coming for the pep rally. I don’t know what he was doing behind the scenes but I wasted time with the two helicopter medics that were in his Broncos Go video who were assigned to keep the aisle clear for the incoming Broncos group. Speaking of the Broncos Go video, CHCO and the Broncos decided to rerelease his updated video online and in the past 36 hours (as I write this) I am overwhelmed to say it has over 1.6 MILLION views. Um, yes you read that correctly. 1.6M!!! I would say that is viral. This is one viral thing I am happy about. This is extremely exciting and so timely. I am so proud of this song and the hospital and Daniel, as much as Daniel can’t stand hearing it over and over (as most of us do of FROZEN songs) I know he doesn’t really like to be ‘known’ for the song. But he will admit (as you will see later) it has resulted in some pretty great things. So back to the rally. Things were warming up in the atrium and the crowd was starting to stir and the MC guy Zach from the hospital relations gets up to rev up the crowd (of which they needed none). This town is going Bronco crazy and CHCO probably has some of the biggest fans in Bronco’s Country. He welcomes everyone and then announces that there are some very special guest coming in and then the crowd parts for the three special guests Karl Mecklenburg(Legendary, Ring of Fame former Bronco) , Ebenezar Ekuban (never heard of this guy, but he was lovely and awesome with the crowd) and our very own Daniel Hailpern. Wha- and the three of them come down the open hallway to the stage. Amazing Daniel and these two massive men came through the crowd and took the three chairs on stage. Gil (our friend and CEO at CHCO) introduced the players and then led into a full blown welcome to Daniel, our resident superstar. He announced that Daniel is a patient and cancer survivor (1-I will refer to this later) and the ambassador and then he said you probably know he wrote the song Broncos Go. And I could almost see Daniel’s eyes roll back in his head. Then they said they were going to play a clip and I looked at him trying to get his attention to keep his cool. They played the whole dang song from start to finish, but this time his reaction was different. Everyone was watching it on big screens, but he was watching the crowd from the front of the stage. Almost a thousand people were singing along to his words. I bet that is what it feels to be a rock star. When his part on camera came on they all cheered for him and when the chorus came on they cheered and waved their rally towels and when the group seen came it was like an explosion of emotion for everyone. Everyone was beaming with pride and excitement and for the first time since way back when I think Daniel loved his song again and realized where it really brought him to. The Super Bowl being momentous for all of the fans is huge but this is a pinnacle moment for Daniel as he has gotten pretty close up to the action this year. After the song and cheering ended Gil announced Daniel was going to the superbowl and the crowd went wild. Then Daniel was asked to stand up and do what he does best and boy he did not disappoint. Although I did not know his questions in advance I had the utmost confidence he had this. He asked his questions to both players taking turns for about 10 minutes in front of about 1000 fans. Broncos fans and Daniel fans for sure. He held everyones attention and finished up with one final question (ala Color War) full of spirit: Who’s gonna win this Super Bowl? And the entire crowd went wild. Gil came on and appropriately said he had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time that Daniel was interviewing Broncos players. Magical. We followed up with some pictures and then as we were leaving several employees asked to take pictures of Daniel. Craziness.
After that we had lunch and swiftly moved into a fabulous D[P]R. It was a nice treat to have a few friends come and watch his show.
Night was spent watching all channels broadcast something about Daniel and the pep rally and over and over again 2, 3, 4 times I kept hearing Daniel Hailpern-Cancer Survivor and every time it was like a bright flash in my eyes, over and over again every time I heard it. This can’t be the first time I have heard this. Why was it just sinking in? I do nt understand it. I am getting teary. I thought I did my crying for the day when he was being cheered on by the entire hospital. Nope here I go again but now it was like a slap in the face. I know we still have residual concerns but as I write this I think I am processing that hearing he is a SURVIVOR means that I am ready to admit that he needs to move on to the next step in his healing. Are we past all of this? Hell No, but are we passed the worst part? I think I am ready to admit that there is no looking back and we are moving on to the rest of our lives. I have no idea why these broadcasters made this thought occur. Words are powerful.
Speaking of, this past weekend one of Daniel’s best friend’s brother finally got a chance to conduct his own audio interview of Daniel. Matan is in college and has his own radio broadcasting show. They have been trying to do this for some time. When Matan arrived Rob and I actually went out for lunch and left them alone. I know Matan is a good friend and Daniel was comfortable but didn’t realize how comfortable. Today I got to listen to the podcast. It was a huge mistake to listen to it while driving. I had no idea it would be what it was or I would react so viscerally. I have never heard Daniel share this much personally about how he felt about his illness and recovery. I knew he had it in him and as many times as reporters and anyone has asked I have never heard him express himself like this. I think I knew this is how he felt but hearing him say these words was so beautifully eloquent it was moving and mature beyond his years. Should I have expected any less of him. He has been through so much, how could he not be this grown up. I hate that. I hate that he has had to rush to this point. But is it any surprise that Daniel got to this realization of being a survivor a lot sooner than me. NO surprise I guess. He has become more mature than me at times. Please grab a box of tissues and enjoy Matan’s podcast interview.
https://m.soundcloud.com/motownlowdown-980157762/the-power-of-sports-with-daniel-hailpern