By DARLENE PRINCE

prince@crescent-news.com

An area man with very serious health problems was able to take a trip to see his beloved Detroit Tigers, thanks to the efforts of the Angel Foundation.

David Groff, originally from Continental, and a resident at Defiance Area In-Patient Hospice Center, was recently granted a wish by the Angel Foundation.

Groff, who has multiple sclerosis, has been through some life-altering changes this year. His wife, Chris, who had been taking care of him at home, died several months ago from cancer. They had been married for 19 years.

Groff then moved to the Defiance hospice facility, where family members visit him often. He has two daughters by his first marriage, Katie Mortier of Chicago, Ill., and Sara Groff, West Palm Beach, Fla. He also has two stepsons, Josh and Scott Crossgrove, both of Continental, by his marriage to Chris. There are three grandchildren.

Dr. Vicki Roy, who is the medical director at the hospice facility, has known the family for years. She requested that the Angel Foundation grant him a wish to go see his beloved Detroit Tigers play in a ballgame.

The Angel Foundation, which is headquartered in Van Wert, grants wishes to adults throughout Ohio who have been diagnosed by their doctor as having a terminal illness. Recipients may be referred to the foundation by a caregiver, family member, friend or other organization.

According to Groff's stepson, Josh, "He was thrilled to be able to go to the game. He has been a Tigers' baseball fan since he was 12 years old."

The family borrowed a van from another family in Continental and they all rode up to the game in the van.

"He went on the ballfield and met four Tigers players -- Kenny Rogers, Curtis Granderson, Justin Verlander and Magglio Ordonez," recalled Josh. "They signed Scott's baseball jersey. Besides the four players, he got to meet the play-by-play announcer, Dan Dickerson.

"When mom and dad got married in 1989, we took a family vacation to Tiger Stadium," he said. "We went to a game every year through 1994. He boycotted going to the games after 1994 because of the baseball strike. He would listen to the games on the radio, but would not go to a game. He really liked listening to Ernie Harwell (a former Tigers' announcer)."

Josh said he, his wife, Krista, Scott, David and Chris did eventually go to a ballgame in 1997.

One of Groff's hospice nurses, Valerie Johnson, LPN, traveled with the family to the Tigers' ballgame this year.

"When David first heard the news about going to the game, he was very excited and his face and eyes lit up," recalled Johnson. "It gave him something to look forward to."

Although he can't speak, Groff can communicate with eye movements -- upward to indicate "yes" and sideways to indicate "no."

Johnson continued, "At the game, David was a little overwhelmed on the ballfield. He is legally blind and couldn't see the players positioning themselves around him for a picture. He took a transistor radio with him to listen to the game. He listens to all of the Tigers' games on the radio."

Johnson said, after the trip, while Groff was very tired, he was still enthused about it.

"David is an awesome person," she said. "Even though his body is not working, his mind is as sharp as it can be."

The Angel Foundation was established in 1995 by Community Health Professionals, a nonprofit, home health care agency. There are only a few organizations in the United States that grant wishes to adults. The Angel Foundation is the only adult wish provider in Ohio.

The foundation is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that is funded through donations of individuals, businesses, churches, etc. The organization's small staff is comprised mostly of volunteers and nearly every donation goes toward providing wishes.

For more information about the foundation, call 419-238-6726.