RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone… this is Brentt Eads of Extra Inning Softball. On behalf of all our staff at EIS, we hope you have a wonderful day with family, friends and stay safe this COVID-tinged year.
On this day where we express gratitude, I want to say how much I’ve been touched by you—the softball community—and how you really showed amazing support in the last week and really lifted my spirits too.
Many of you know this story, but I have an update at the end you’ll have to check out!
Here’s what happened….
My wife Bonnie and I have family friends in Idaho where we live who have a sweet 10-year-old daughter named Kasi who had to undergo open heart surgery last Wednesday (Nov. 18, 2020).
What was supposed to be a couple hour surgery, however, became extended to 10 hours as the doctors found complications in one of the ventricles of her heart. Kasi was placed in the hospital’s pediatric ICU with an intubation tube to assist in her breathing.
It was a scary and stressful night for all involved, as you can imagine, and I thought I would make a post on my person Facebook page asking for all to keep Kasi in mind. I have over 2,500 “friends” on the social media platform and I’d guess 90 percent are through softball.
At 8:32 pm, I posted the following:
Facebook friends: I normally don’t ask for anything, but I have a simple request if you could.
Some friends of our family have a sweet 10-year-old daughter named Kasi who had open heart surgery today (Wed.) and there are some complications. She’s in pediatric ICU tonight; please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks so much… Brentt, Bonnie and family
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Within seconds, messages started popping up, many simply saying “Prayers”!” or a variation such as “Prayers for this sweet girl.”
By Thursday morning, the post had 312 likes, 267 comments, 42 shares. That post and subsequent follow ups would eventually pass 1,000 likes, 500 comments and 100 shares, many of them I would find out later where to large Prayer Message Boards where others included Kasi in their supplications.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I sat amazed Wednesday night at the warmth, kindness and generosity of the softball community in their love and support, that I had tears running down my cheeks in wonder and great gratitude of all those who rallied behind this 10-year-old girl they didn’t even know.
Here were some sample of comments received in Kasi’s behalf:
- Prayers being sent! We’re all here for you Kasi
- Sending prayers for Kasi
- Prayers for Kasi!! And praying for a speedy recovery!
- Our prayers for healing and comfort for her and her family.
- Have been in your shoes young warrior. Keep fighting and wanting to get up and walk. Praying for God and his healing hands to guide you through 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 You got this
- Lifting her and her family up in prayer!!!
- Prayers from the Mojo Lunsford family
- 🙏 prayers for her, her family, all those concerned for her and medical persons
- Extra thoughts & healing prayers coming now! Wishing her a speedy recovery!
- Praying for this beautiful young lady.
- Prayers headed big time.
- Peace, protection, healing, wholeness
- God be with Kasi
- Prayers for your healing Kasi
- May God watch over Kasi as she heals after her heart surgery.
- Prayers for Kasi- may she be touched with the Lord’s hand of healing.
- Prayers said out loud my friend
- Definitely praying for this sweet, innocent child!
- Strength to her family and may God grant her a full and fast recovery!
- Sending prayers for Kasi from Tennessee
- Prayers, and may guardian angels watch over her and help her doctors.
- I declare healing in jesus name. Amen. (a minister from Africa!)
- A Ton of Love and Prayers sent your way for Kasi and her Family
- Prayers for Kasi and her family!
- Lifting her and her family in prayer
- Sending all of our prayers from Wisconsin!!!!
- Father God hold onto Kasi & Heal her totally in Jesus name Amen
- Wishing for a speedy recovery
- ♡Kasi ~ we are praying for you sweetie. Sending Get-Well-Wishes to You!
- Prayers up!
- Praying and shared
- Of course buddy never hesitate to ask for prayers no matter the situation
- Praying for her and her family, God Bless…
- Praying right now.
A week ago today (Thursday, Nov. 19), I was able to share with the family that they had support in the softball community from Olympic Gold medalists, college head coaches, current and former college All-Americans, club and high school coach and player standouts and hundreds if not thousands of those in our wonderful sport who had her back!
My wife and I sent these to the family and Kasi’s father responded by texting me: “Thank you for all the posting you have been doing for Kasi and prayers. We really appreciate it. (It’s) very sweet and encouraging. We read through all the postings you sent, amazing. Thank you so much.”
By Thursday, we received a positive update on Kasi and I posted this on my FB page:
Just heard from the family that “results are back and her Echo (ultrasound of the heart) looks good and she’s off the ventilator. She’s in a lot of pain but on the road to recovery.”
Your prayers… our prayers… have been heard and are being answered.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your thoughts, best wishes and prayers… your love and concern for this sweet child brought tears. Bless you all for your kindness! – Brentt
Last weekend, I flew to Alabama to enjoy the Bolts 5-Star Exposure showcase and must have had at least a dozen people come up to me and ask, “How is Kasi?” The continued support was touching as people continued to follow up and check in on the young girl’s progress.
By Sunday, things have improved to the point where we were elated to learn the following as I posted:
Happy news with Kasi, got this text from her dad today (Sunday), who gave me permission to share:
“Kasi is doing great today. More walking and eating better. Thank you for the prayers.”
Much gratitude to everyone who has shown such love and concern for this sweet 10-year-old angel… it’s working!
Just four days later, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving and my heart is full. It’s been a stressful year all around and I was becoming discouraged with all that’s happened when this situation with Kasi showed me the goodness of people, to an extent I never expected but incredibly appreciate.
Amazingly, several people—knowing of how traumatic the situation was for the family and how little time they had to focus on basic things such as grocery shopping—sent gift cards valued in the hundreds of dollars for me to forward to the family.
Again, I was uplifted and touched because of the generosity of those who didn’t even know this sweet little angel but offered not just financial help but prayers and love, which I feel definitely made a difference.
Why do I believe this?
Because last Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, Kasi was in intensive care and exactly a week later, last night (Wed., November 25,) she left the hospital and returned home with her family to enjoy Thanksgiving out of the hospital
Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey. You helped uplift the spirits of a young girl, her family and many others… including me.
— Brentt Eads