Tropicana Field Opening Day — A Day Our Family Will Never Forget

We had the most incredible day at Tropicana Field — and I mean that in a way that goes way deeper than just a baseball game. Our family was invited by Buddy Baseball to attend Opening Day for the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the Chicago Cubs, and not only was Jason absolutely beside himself over the Cubs matchup, but we found out we were going to be in a suite. A full suite, y’all — with food spread across tables, chairs, and rows of stadium seats looking out over the most gorgeous ball field. It was one of those Tropicana Field moments where you just stop and take it all in.

Watching Jon experience that game from the suite — the energy, the crowd, the food, all of it — was just a moment I will carry with me for the rest of my life. His eyes were wide and his smile was huge, and honestly all the kids were the same way. I told Jason that none of them are ever going to want to see a baseball game the regular way again, and honestly? I can’t blame them.

But here’s the part of this day that made it so much more than just a great outing. This wasn’t just Opening Day for the Rays. It was the first game back at Tropicana Field since Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off and damaged the stadium — the reopening after months of repairs and recovery.

And here’s the full circle moment we didn’t see coming until we were sitting in those seats: at the exact same time Hurricane Milton was tearing through and destroying Tropicana Field, Jon was in the hospital right next door, recovering from major surgery. He had his esophagus repaired — a procedure called a supercharged jejunal interposition — at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. He spent his 15th birthday in that hospital. Twenty-eight days he fought to recover from that surgery.

So there we sat in that suite on Opening Day — the day Tropicana Field reopened after its own recovery — celebrating right alongside it. Jon, fully recovered and healthier than he’s ever been, giving double thumbs up in a Cubs jersey at a sold-out Tampa Bay Rays game. My heart was so full I didn’t even know what to do with it. We are grateful for every single moment we have with that kid. Every. Single. One.

Jon has been part of Buddy Baseball for 16 seasons now — since he was 8 years old — and the program has given him so many memories on the field. Being invited to Tropicana Field as part of that community, on a day this meaningful, felt like the most perfect gift. If you have a child with special needs in the Tampa Bay area and aren’t familiar with Buddy Baseball, I can’t recommend it enough. It is a beautiful, beautiful program.

If you want to follow more of Jon’s story, I shared his full adoption story on the blog recently — it’s one of the posts closest to my heart.

More of Jonathan’s Story — And Our Family Life

If this story touched your heart, here are a few more posts from our family you’ll want to read:

• Jonathan’s First Hit — Buddy Baseball Opening Day — The moment Jon stepped up to the plate for the very first time this season and made it count.
• Jon Scores THREE Baskets — Special Olympics Basketball — Three baskets in one game from our guy who never, ever quits.
• Jon’s Adoption Story — The full story of how Jonathan came home, told in Stephanie’s words, from the very first phone call.

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Tropicana Field Opening Day — About Stephanie Longstreth

Stephanie Longstreth is the home cook, mom, and storyteller behind StephanieCooksForACrowd.com. She cooks for a family of seven in Florida — five kids, two cats, and one husband who appreciates a good meal. Four of her children came home through adoption, and family stories are woven into everything she makes and shares. Find her crowd-friendly recipes, sourdough journey, and real family life on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest @stephaniecooksforacrowd.