Florida Gators

ST. LOUIS – The roar inside what they call the Illinois Central Room echoed down the hallways here at the historic Union Station Hotel, home of the Gators gymnastics team during its stay at the NCAA Championships.

As the Gators wrapped up a team meeting Friday morning, the doors to the room opened.

In walked 7-year-old Bailey Warner. Temporary pandemonium ensued.

"The team didn't know Bailey was coming to our meeting,'' UF head coach Jenny Rowland said. "They only knew she was coming to the meet."

Bailey, with fresh spikes of hair sprouting all around her near-bald head, was engulfed by hugs and kisses and smiles from the Gators. She beamed back, her difficult journey over the past two years washed away by the joy of the moment.

Originally diagnosed when she was 6 with an inoperable brain tumor known as anaplastic astrocytoma, Bailey eventually received a more favorable diagnosis that led her to doctors at UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, where she underwent surgery and continues to receive chemotherapy treatments.
 
At the time she was diagnosed with cancer, Bailey and her family – parents Jeremy and Ashley, and siblings Colton and Madison – lived in Mount Dora, about a half hour north of Orlando. Earlier this year they moved to Lawrenceville, Ga., when Jeremy got a new job.

Over the course of her treatment at Shands, Bailey's family got connected with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, an organization that pairs pediatric cancer patients with teams, clubs and organizations for support.

In October, Bailey got paired with the UF gymnastics team. Despite the added distance to travel to UF for Bailey's treatments, the Warner family refused to miss out on the opportunity for Bailey to be lifted by the Gators. Jeremy and the kids made the drive to St. Louis on Thursday night and into Friday morning. 

If you attended a meet at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center this season, you saw Bailey's big smile as she bounced around the floor and shared the spotlight on Friday nights. The Gators embraced her as one of their own.

"Our team has gained a lot from her strength,'' Rowland said. "It just puts a lot of things in perspective. She provides a lot of hope, a lot of faith, and a lot of inspiration for this team. They really rely on the strength of Bailey."

Bailey turns 8 in July, and if all goes well, she is scheduled for her final chemotherapy treatment next month. Cancer is a wicked invader and there are never guarantees of a long-term victory. The hope is Bailey can stay strong and continue to live a good life.
 
Friday was a great day. She came bearing gifts, too.
 

Once the excitement of her arrival subdued, she passed out gift bags to each member of the team. Inside, a framed photo of her in her orange and blue leotard at one of Florida's meets.

Rowland then ordered the lights turned off so a hype video could be played for the team as it prepares for Friday night's second semifinal at the NCAA Championships. If the Gators finish in the top three, they advance to Saturday's Super Six to determine the national champion.

Jeremy Warner watched the scene unfold while leaning on a wall near the door. He had the look of a father watching his little girl live out her dreams.

Finally, as the team prepared to break from the meeting, Warner stepped in front of the group to say a few words.

"I'll try not to get too emotional,'' he said as his voice cracked. "You guys have been truly a blessing. You guys have done so much for Bailey and our family. We are truly blessed."

Warner said Bailey struggled with movement on her left side and lacked enthusiasm and energy on a lot of days before she was connected with the Gators. He saw instant changes in her behavior when she started to hang around the team.

Bailey raced around the room Friday morning oblivious to her darkest days.

"She's like a celebrity,'' her father said.

In the world of gymnastics, where glitter and sparkle are tools of the trade, Bailey fits right in with her headband and gap-tooted smile. For now, she's too young to realize how she truly fits in with the Gators.

"It was a good surprise and something the girls can really just take a moment and keep things real,'' Rowland said.