Andrew Cherpak is a young man in his twenties battling a life-threatening illness. This illness has left him legally blind, unable to walk and in constant pain. He loves baseball, especially the New York Yankees.
 
His Front Row day began early and was short but sweet. At 8am, Andrew, his mom Lee Ann and his medical team (from North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System EMF) left from his home in Bayville, Long Island to be driven in an ambulance to Yankee Stadium. The ambulance arrived at Yankee Stadium a little after 9am.  They met up with Jeffrey Paul Bobrick, who was the person who planned and delivered this memorable day for Andrew and his family.

They were greeted by Rob Bernstein, Carol Laurenzano and Gina from the Yankees organization and, after a rendezvous with Andrew’s dad Andy, the family went on a special tour of legendary Monument Park and the Yankees Museum.
 
After leaving the museum, the Cherpaks met Front Row Foundation event coordinator Jeffrey Paul Bobrick outside the Yankees clubhouse. Jeffrey gave Andrew a gift basket with Front Row shirts and caps, special colors for Memorial Day, flowers, and a CD with Andrew’s favorite song, the Who’s “Baba O'Reilly” (aka “Teenage Wasteland”). “Can you let me hold the bag?” Andrew asked, and we put it in his hands. The Yankees presented Andrew with a baseball glove and two baseballs.
 
Now it was time to Meet the Yankees. The excitement was palpable in the room. First, Andrew met Brian Cashman, the Yankees General Manager. “He’s the man who built these championship teams,” said Andy. “Well, some of them,” Cashman replied. Next, Andrew met Yankees manager Joe Girardi and coaches Tony Peña and Mike Harkey. We waited by the clubhouse, listening to the sounds of batting practice and meeting players. All the players we met spent time with Andrew, spoke with him, shook his hand, met his parents and signed the baseballs the New York Yankees had given to him.
 
Catchers Jose Molina and the great Jorge Posada were the first players Andrew met. Then Jaba Chamberlain came over. Francisco Cervelli stopped by and had a lengthy conversation with Andrew before signing baseballs. By this time, Andrew was getting tired, but he wanted to meet more players. All-Star pitcher A.J. Burnett walked up and Andrew apologized for how he was feeling. “I’m sorry, he said, “I’m half asleep.” “That’s ok, buddy,” Burnett responded, “I’m half-asleep too!” Andrew smiled. While Andrew and his family waited for more players, his mom Lee Ann held his hand, crying with joy and smiling. Yankees broadcasters Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling met Andrew, who was very happy to meet the people behind the voices he’s listened to for years. But the event was not over.
 
Johnny Damon, back from batting practice, visited with Andrew. But the Yankees had saved the best for last. Derek Jeter came running toward us, shaking everyone’s hand and telling Andrew how happy he was to meet him. “Now I’ve met everybody,” said Andrew after he met his favorite Yankee player and future Hall of Famer.
 
While the Yankees had donated tickets for Andrew and his family, Andrew was not well enough to see the game at the stadium. He would have to go home and enjoy the exploits of the players he had just met in greater comfort. We knew this might be the case and we all went to the ambulance.
 
“We thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Lee Ann said. “You have given Andrew a piece of Heaven. He is glowing and it will remain with him forever.”
 
“I feel like Cooperstown came to you,” Andy said to his son.
 
“I’m happy,” said Andrew, before he went back home. “There are other sports and then there’s baseball.”

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