Himes, a WAEC second grader, was the Dragons’ ball boy and honorary captain against visiting General McLane. And he was loving it!

“This kid, when it comes to both baseball and football, he doesn’t stop,” said his father, Craig.

Unfortunately, for the active seven-year-old, he’s going to have to figure out how to slow down, at least for a little while. Emory and his parents have spent the past couple of weeks in and out of the hospital, and are making frequent trips to Pittsburgh.

“He’s had neck pain since (age) three, and nobody could figure anything out,” said Craig.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren Area Elementary School second grader Emory Himes.

An online GoFundMe, “Medical expenses for Emory Himes and family,” shared some of the answers. “Emory was recently diagnosed with chiari malformation type 1 (brain tissue being pushed out through his spinal canal) and a syrnx (excess spinal fluid, cyst-like) in his spinal cord that extends down to his thoracic vertebrae, which is going to require surgery,” according to Craig. “He will be having a portion of his skull removed and a portion of his C1 vertebrae as well. Recovery time from this surgery will be roughly a month before he will be able to return to school with limitations. His mother and I will also have to take time from work (lost wages) to care for him and get his sister, 5, to and from school and activities. (Emory’s) neurosurgeon is in Pittsburgh, which is 2-1/2 hours away, and it’s easier for us to travel and stay the day before due to our work schedules. We will be having a few more appointments before surgery and obviously follow-ups afterwards.

“The past three weeks have been a whirlwind, to say the least,” added Craig, “with each Monday being spent in Pittsburgh for sedated MRIs, CAT-scans, and our first appointment with the neuro, and it’s starting to take its toll financially.”

You can tell in their voices Emory’s parents aren’t comfortable asking for help.

“We hate to ask for help, but unfortunately, this is our current situation,” said Craig. “Any help would be appreciated.”

Craig’s and Elisa’s financial concerns come a distant second to looking out for Emory, who is a baseball, basketball and football nut who would spend every other minute on the trampoline if he could.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans WAEC seven-year-old Emory Himes hangs with Warren Dragons seniors Tommy Nyquist (22) and Eric Dippold (4) on Friday at War Memorial Field. Himes was ball boy and an honorary captain for the final game of the season against General McLane.

Emory has a brain MRI scheduled on Nov. 16, “then surgery after that,” said his mother, Elisa. “So, up until surgery, I’m busy saying, ‘Please, don’t do this. Please, don’t do that.'”

The ball boy for Friday’s game, Emory was disappointed that officials weren’t throwing footballs out of play to the sidelines more often.

“He doesn’t stop,” repeated Craig.

Surgery, or “removing a portion of his skull at the base,” according to Elisa, will hopefully decompress his brain and stop pushing it downward, “relieving the symptoms (of the congenital condition).

“Honestly, I don’t know if he’s grasped the concept (of surgery),” she said.

The phrase “sitting this one out” doesn’t register to Emory, which made it so special when the family received a text message from Warren head football coach Cody Bupp. Emory was part of the Warren Little Gridders youth football camp over the summer, and Bupp preaches, “once a Dragon, always a Dragon.”

“We stayed the entire game,” said Elisa.

She wasn’t fearful of Emory getting hurt on the sidelines because she could tell #30 (Pat Ross, injured for the game) and others were watching out for him, even playing catch with him.

Being the high school team’s last game, underclassmen formed a tunnel and held their helmets high as the seniors left the field for the last time. Emory, whose favorite team was the Philadelphia Eagles and favorite player was A.J. Brown, joined them through the tunnel. His favorite team is now the Dragons and favorite player is now senior Tommy Nyquist.

“We were honored tonight to have Emory with us,” said Bupp. “He’s going through a lot in his personal life. For a second-grader, he’s a Little Gridder. We had him (in camp) over the summer and he comes to all the games. Tonight was the least we could do for someone who is going to have the opportunity to be a future Dragon. I tell these kids all the time that football is just a part of it; the life lessons you take away from it are going to carry you in life.”

The Dragon seniors signed a game ball and presented it to Emory.

“We were trying not to cry when they did that,” said Elisa. “I’m so grateful.”