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Signed Rizzo Photo Missing From Young Cancer Patient's Hospital Room

By Jessica Cabe | October 24, 2017 1:44pm | Updated on October 24, 2017 5:13pm
 A signed photo of Cubs star Anthony Rizzo has gone missing from a young cancer patient's hospital room at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
A signed photo of Cubs star Anthony Rizzo has gone missing from a young cancer patient's hospital room at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
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Provided/KMOV-TV

WRIGLEYVILLE — A signed photo of Anthony Rizzo has gone missing from a 12-year-old Cubs fan's hospital room.

Abby Schrage of Highland, Ill., is being treated for cancer at St. Louis Children's Hospital, and her mother told KMOV-TV that the photo was meant to serve as her inspiration, as the Cubs first baseman also battled cancer as a child and has remained supportive of research and treatment.

 

"I just kind of hoped it would brighten her spirits, help cheer her up,” Abby's mother, Jill Schrage, told the TV station. 

On Friday, Schrage noticed the photo, which Abby received along with a letter from Rizzo in June, was missing from Abby's hospital room. Family searched the room with no luck.

The hospital is checking security cameras to see if the photo may have been stolen. Schrage said if the photo is returned, there will be no questions asked.

While the hospital continues to investigate what happened to the original signed photo, it has also secured a new signed photo as well as a signed baseball. These will be given to Abby as soon as they arrive in the mail this week, said Laura High, spokeswoman for St. Louis Children's Hospital. 

"We are reviewing footage, but cameras do not point into patient rooms," High said. "Of course, we take a lot of pride in the safety and security of our hospital and in making sure our patients are taken care of — not just their physical health, but also their emotional health. That's really important to us."

Cubs spokesman Julian Green said Anthony Rizzo was unavailable to comment, but Green said he is not surprised by the slugger's willingness to replace what was lost.

"Anthony has a heart of gold, so I'm not surprised he would immediately respond when he learned of the missing photo," he said.

Abby was diagnosed with two germinoma brain tumors in 2016 and beat the cancer, but she relapsed this past May. She underwent a bone marrow transplant last month and experienced major complications afterward, according to KMOV-TV. 

A $25,000 GoFundMe campaign to help cover Abby's medical costs was started by her volleyball team, and it currently has raised $8,268.

 

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