Two special gifts for two special people
After airing a story on ABC 6 News of a Mayo Clinic surgeon giving his signed Ben Roethlisberger football to a teenager with a rare, degenerative condition, Ben Roethlisberger reached out to tell us the signature was fake. What came next was remarkable!! — Hannah Tiede, ABC News- Rochester, Minnesota.
It’s a story you’ll only see on ABC 6 news…one that started with an incredible act of kindness.
“Seth has a very rare autoimmune disease that is killing all of his healthy cells and tissues,” said Julie Bayles. “Basically its progressive degenerative; it is choosing which organ system it wants to attack next.”
For the past 11 years, Julie has been taking her son, Seth Bayles, to Mayo Clinic for specialized treatment. It’s quite the trip, considering they live in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“It’s worth the 600-mile drive,” said Julie. “We feel like we are the only patient they have at the time.”
Nothing could be truer after a complication with Seth’s feeding tube. It was at an emergency visit on August 8th, where Seth met Patrick Quandt.
“I had an immediate connection as soon as we walked in the room,” said Quandt, a Registered Nurse at Mayo Clinic.
The two found they share something in common.
“Once you’re a Steelers fan, you’re always a Steelers fan,” said Seth.
“I showed him the tattoo on my arm,” said Quandt. “Immediately, knew that my good friend Doctor John Stulak would really appreciate the chance to meet Seth.”
“Steeler Nation is all about family and so when one member of the family is in the hospital, then all of the family members flock,” said Dr. Stulak, a Cardiac Surgeon at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Stulak knew right away he wouldn’t be visiting Seth empty-handed. He gave Seth what he thought was a signed Ben Roethlisberger (A.K.A. “Big Ben”) football.
“Nine years I have had that football,” said Dr. Stulak. “It was a gift from my brother, George. I gave it to him [Seth] without asking him [George] and by the time I told George I gave away his gift, he had already seen the story on Facebook.”
The story also caught the attention of Roethlisberger’s social media & website manager. She showed our […]
The last pre-season game
Ben to open “Seven” restaurant near Heinz Field
From Joyce Hanz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Ben Roethlisberger is opening a new restaurant in Pittsburgh, steps away from Heinz Field and PNC Park on the North Shore.
The Steelers quarterback and longtime business partner and friend Scott Kier will open North Shore Seven, scheduled for an April 2019 debut — just in time for the Pirates home opener.
“The guys on the team always refer to him as ‘Seven,’ not Ben, so we wanted to call it Seven,” said Kier, explaining the eatery name choice.
The menu will offer made-from-scratch entrees, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and pour more than 50 taps, including craft beers. Designed for about 250 patrons, diners will choose from indoor/outdoor dining — including two bars and two patios. Kier said they are still in the design phase with an emphasis on maximizing the large space.
Kier, a Greensburg native now living in Charleston, S.C., described the space as “industrial chic.”
“It’s safe to say there won’t be a bad seat in the house to view sports. It’s on the first floor, and we have city views, and actually the best river views of the city from the North Shore — clear and unobstructed. It was a long hard climb to get here. They just don’t hand out spaces like this to just anyone, even if your name is Ben Roethlisberger.” — Scott Kier.
North Shore Seven is the fourth establishment for the business partners, and the first to open in Pittsburgh. The pair operate three additional restaurants together in the south — King Street Grille locations in Myrtle Beach and Kiawah Island in South Carolina, and the Savannah Taphouse in Savannah, Ga.
“Food is very important to both Ben and I,” Kier said. “From the beginning, we knew that great food was the key to being unique and having longevity. Everything we do is made from scratch. We wanted to do different food than typical sports bar (food).”
Signature dishes such as Sweet Tea Fried Chicken marinated 36 hours in sweet tea, Create-Your-Own-Chopped Salads (think homemade salad dressings on custom salads), custom Angus burgers and Asiago Crusted Chicken separate their restaurants from the run-of-the-mill sports bar offerings.
Past King Street Grille culinary awards include “Best Sports Bar” for ten years running by Charleston City Paper and “Best Salads” by WMBF in Myrtle Beach.
Steeler fans […]
Ben’s first pre-season action of the season
It’s a Fan Friday!
“Steeler Nation is alive and well in Charleston, SC. Loyal fans held their 7th Annual Steelers Cruise in the Charleston Harbor last Saturday. Proceeds from this event are given to our favorite local charity – Carolina Children’s Charity. The Charity was created by local volunteers committed to meeting the needs of local children with birth defects. Carolina Children’s has no state of federal affiliation and relies solely on the generosity of the community. What a great way to kick of another successful football season! Let’s Go Steelers!” — Ron Manz.