Somerset Patriots Welcome Young Heart Patient as Part of Hope Week

The Somerset Patriots welcomed four-year-old Nathaniel Montaque to TD Bank Ballpark as part of a Yankees’ HOPE (Helping Others Preserve and Excel) Week event last Wednesday, August 24.

According to a press release issued by the Patriots, the Yankees Double-A affiliate:

"Nathaniel was born prematurely with ASD (atrial septal defect), a hole in the wall of his heart that divides the upper chambers, at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center at 31 weeks. His condition eventually required surgery to repair the hole in his upper heart, which was performed in March of 2021 at the Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

"Thanks to pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Mark Michael, pediatric nurse practitioner, Kelly Thibault, the expert medical teams at both Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and his incredible family support system, Nathaniel is healthy, active and doing great."

Nathaniel was warmly greeted by Patriots skipper Dan Fiorito as well as players Anthony Volpe, Everson Pereira, Austin Wells, and Elijah Dunham during batting practice before the Patriots game against the New Hampshire Fischer Cats.  He even got to throw out the first pitch along with Dr. Michael and Kelly Thibault.