by Matt Snider
This past March, the Langhorne Athletic Association’s Diamond Dogs began their second game of the season with a pregame parade for Melissa Schweiker. It was a total surprise to her as one by one, all the members of the 10-and-under baseball team strolled onto the field wearing their newest uniform additions.
Melissa’s son, Jake Schweiker, was the last in line carrying flowers and a card. As he reached her, he said, “Mom, do you like my socks?”
Jake’s socks, as well as the other team members’, were pink in support of Melissa’s recent battle with cancer.
“It was a complete surprise to me,” said Melissa. “It was also extremely touching.”
This show of support was just one of the many acts of kindness the families of the Diamond Dogs have displayed in the preceding months, as they did everything they could to be there for the Schweiker family despite only knowing them for a short time. “I’ve only known some of these people for about two years now,” said Melissa. “The one thing that brought us together was a sport…baseball.”
Although baseball had brought them together, the families of the players went above and beyond in a time of need. “They were delivering meals, as well as cards, taking her son to baseball practices, just a ton of things,” said Marie Cipullo, Melissa’s mother. “They have gone beyond friendship and have truly been phenomenal.”
Melissa’s journey began in February when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I didn’t want to tell everyone right away. I wanted to at least wait until I spoke with the surgeon and knew what was going to happen.”
