Wall of dreams

Garden of Dreams teen Taylor, from Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Long Island, has been actively involved with the Foundation since meeting Rangers legend Adam Graves while receiving treatment in the hospital in 2011. 

Since the hospital visit, Taylor has participated in various Garden of Dreams events including a personalized Make-A-Dream Come True experience with Adam Graves, the Rangers Delta Fan Flight and the Garden of Dreams Delta Holiday in the Hanger celebration. Taylor, who has formed lasting friendships with many players on the team including Dan Girardi, also participated in Blueshirts Off Our Back and the puck drop for 2015 Hockey Fights Cancer night. With the announcement of Dan Girardi ending his tenure with the Rangers, Taylor shared a special message with her friend:

“I will never forget when Adam surprised me years ago and told me that I was getting Dan Girardi’s jersey at the Blueshirts Off Our Back ceremony. I was so excited to go on the ice at MSG and see “real” hockey players up close. After that day my family and I saw a lot more of you, we became friends and we would even joke and ask if you were sick of seeing us so much? You would say “No, never, you are a lot of fun and not too annoying.” It always made us laugh. No matter what you always made time to say hello, talk to me and give me a hug hello and goodbye. I won’t forget what you told me once at lunch. I was having a tough time and I had chemo the next week – you told me to just remember you would be thinking of me, you were on my side and I was tougher than any hockey player. Sometimes I still think of that when I need to. I don’t really like this time of year because I don’t like to see friends leave the team, but I learned it’s part of the business – it still stinks. I will miss our chats; I will miss us joking when I see you. Thank you for showing me every day what it means to be “hockey tough”, for showing me to always get back up no matter how bad you’re hurt, but mostly thank you for being a friend. I know that wherever you go, whatever you do you will give it 100% just like you did in every single game. We will be rooting for you and we will miss you a lot!”

Thank you Dan Girardi for your constant support of our children, including Taylor, over the past 11 years!