TE Harold Fannin Jr. is 11-year-old Carlina's favorite Browns player. So, when Carlina got the chance to high-five Fannin as he was running out of the locker room for practice on Aug. 12, she was beyond excited. The moment marked the first time Carlina saw Fannin in person.
Carlina has a rare autoimmune disease and has visited Washington D.C. to advocate for children's hospitals. University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's played a critical part in her treatment.
"You take something unimaginable and something you never expect, and it turns out to be some of the coolest opportunities," Carlina's mom, Danielle, said. "And we are totally grateful for Rainbow because of the opportunities that we've been given. Having her healthy and on the sidelines giving high fives to players and coaches is just incredible."
Carlina and her family, along with other patients, families and caregivers, attended the Browns' third consecutive University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's (UH Rainbow) Day themed training camp practice on Aug. 12. After debuting in 2024, Rainbow Day is an annual training camp tradition to celebrate UH pediatrics. The day promotes awareness for UH Rainbow's pediatric excellence by providing on-site patient engagement and supporting fundraising efforts.
"So many of our families have to experience so many challenges," President of UH Rainbow Babies & Children's and UH MacDonald Women's Hospital Marissa Kiefer said. "And so being able to get away from the hospital or doctors appointments and be able to spend this day with their families with the Browns is outstanding."
On top of meeting Fannin, Carlina designed custom Air Force 1s for Executive Vice President of Football Operations & General Manager Andrew Berry. Berry came out to the field before practice to show off his new shoes and talk with Carlina.
Head coach Todd Monken also sported customized Air Force 1s, designed by 13-year-old Michael, who has been treated for scoliosis. Michael plays flag football and swims and has been with UH Rainbow for a long time. After meeting Monken, Michael played catch with his favorite player, QB Shedeur Sanders, before practice started.
The players wore patient-designed stickers on their helmets during practice to show their support. After practice ended, multiple players, including T Austin Barber, P Corey Bojorquez, WR Denzel Boston, WR KC Concepcion, T Spencer Fano, DT Mason Graham, WR Jerry Jeudy, G Zion Johnson, LB Carson Schwesinger, K Andre Szmyt and QB Deshaun Watson signed autographs and took pictures with the UH Rainbow patients. Every time a new player made their way over, there were screams of excitement. During an interview with local media, one UH Rainbow Day attendee said meeting Jeudy and watching training camp was the best day of his life.
"We were thrilled to host the third annual UH Rainbow Day at training camp and welcome back University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's patients, families and caregivers to Browns Training Camp," Browns Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Erica Muhleman said. "This initiative highlights the partnership between the Browns and University Hospitals and allows us to create long-lasting memories and spread joy to the kids and their families. Days like this allow our organization to show up for the community and play a meaningful role in our fans' lives. We hope that the patients in attendance today were able to enjoy their day and we are so fortunate to have great partner in UH to bring Rainbow Day to life and impact so many deserving children."
UH Rainbow Day provides a glimpse into the power of sports beyond the field while also highlighting the Browns' commitment to the local community.
"As team physicians who treat athletes of all ages — peewee to pro — we witness the positive impact sports can have on health and resilience," James Voos, MD, Cleveland Browns Head Physician and the Jack & Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at UH said. "Rainbow Day brings those benefits to life in a special way by connecting our patients and families with the Browns organization. The excitement on the faces of these children reminds us why partnerships like this matter."
Throughout UH Rainbow Day, autographed helmets and jerseys were auctioned online. Visit https://onecau.se/mxfna1 for a chance to bid and more information.
University Hospitals is in its 13th season as the official healthcare provider for the Browns, which includes all Cleveland fans at home games, open training camp practices and any events held at Huntington Bank Field.
