On Wednesday, Dion Lewis was back in Patriots colors, but rather than his No. 33 jersey, he sported a Celebrate Volunteerism T-shirt for the team's Charitable Foundation. The running back, who became a fan favorite this past season before suffering a knee injury on November 8, joined Geneo and Haley Grissom for an afternoon at Boston Children's Hospital.
The three made bedside visits in several different wards, bringing along Valentine's Day-themed crafts, balloons, books and more. Then they headed to the patient entertainment center's Seacrest Studios for an interview and game that were broadcast throughout the hospital for all to enjoy.
The visit marked Dion's first outing for **Celebrate Volunteerism**.
"It was great to be here," he commented before leaving the hospital. "I had a great time with the kids and it was a lot of fun. I was happy to see their spirits raised a little bit and how strong they are."
But Dion wasn't the only one raising spirits; many of the patients and families offered him encouragement for his own recovery and the 2016 football season.
"It means a lot," he said. "It gives me a lot of motivation to have so many people care about me. Over the past couple months I got a lot of get well cards from little kids and stuff like that. Seeing the support I'm getting definitely makes me work harder every day."
The positive effect of the visit was also felt by Geneo and Haley, who have often volunteered together, both while part of the Patriots organization and in their college years.
"You go through every day and little things will get you down, but they're going through these huge trials and they're just so uplifting all the time," Haley said of the patients. "It makes your problems seem tiny. Getting to see them be happy and do crafts with them and play with them, I think that's the best part about it."
Such hospital visits are particularly meaningful for the Grissoms because Geneo's father battled and beat cancer in recent years, Haley explained.
"Getting to come here is huge for [Geneo]. He knows what the patients are going through and he feels like he can relate to them and make sure they can have a better day than before he got there."
Geneo added, "If I can go in there and make one little kid's day better, why not? It's another reason to get out of the house. I just love it."
On Feb. 10, Geneo Grissom and Dion Lewis got in the holiday spirit by delivering Valentine's Day gifts to children and their families at Boston Children's Hospital.
Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman - Atlanta fields one of the better running back duos in the NFL. Freeman is the lead dog averaging 4.5 per carry while also scoring five touchdowns, but Coleman is dangerous with is 5.6 yard average and another score. Both gave the Patriots problems in Super Bowl LI and present a major test for a run defense that's coming off by far its best performance of the season last Sunday in New York.
Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman - Atlanta fields one of the better running back duos in the NFL. Freeman is the lead dog averaging 4.5 per carry while also scoring five touchdowns, but Coleman is dangerous with is 5.6 yard average and another score. Both gave the Patriots problems in Super Bowl LI and present a major test for a run defense that's coming off by far its best performance of the season last Sunday in New York.
Rob Gronkowski - The big tight end didn't get to face the Falcons last February, but he's healthy and rolling heading into this Sunday night affair. Gronkowski has at least 80 yards and four combined touchdowns in the last four games he's played.
Malcolm Butler - With Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe both battling injuries, the longest-tenured Patriots cornerback has a lot to shoulder in the back end these days. He made key plays for turnovers twice in New York to key the win and may need to keep the big play momentum rolling for New England to deal with Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing attack.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Geneo Grissom (C) and Dion Lewis visit Ella, brother Matt, Mom and Dad at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)
Tom Brady - TB12 was removed from the injury report this week, so the injury that reportedly dates back to the Week 4 loss to the Panthers is apparently no longer an issue. Brady is the key to it all in the middle of the Patriots offense that's actually been slowed down a bit in recent weeks heading into what could be a shootout against Atlanta.
Alan Branch - The big veteran defensive tackle bounced back from being a healthy scratch to help key New England's impressive run defense in New York. Coming off their best game, Branch and the rest of the front must build on the performance heading into this battle with Atlanta's dangerous two-headed ground attack of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Dion Lewis (L), Geneo Grissom, and wife Haley visit Camryn at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)
Brandin Cooks - New England's speedy new receiver has put up solid numbers, ranking fifth in the NFL with 472 receiving yards while averaging 19.7 yards a catch. People seem to want even more, but this may not be a great matchup given Cooks' history against a former division foe that's seen him average a mere 24 yards per game in his last four games against the Falcons, with zero touchdowns.
Matt Ryan -The reigning NFL MVP is not off to a great start in 2017, notably throwing six interceptions in his first five games of the year to explain his very average 87.3 rating. But, Ryan will be looking to be the seventh straight opponent to throw for 300-plus yards against the Patriots.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Geneo Grissom and Dion Lewis spent the day visiting kids and autographing signs at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's.visit Geneo Grissom visits kids at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)
Vic Beasley Jr. - The reigning NFL sack king has battled a hamstring injury that's cost him two-plus games this season and limited him to just two sacks. But Beasley is working back to full health and remains a scary challenge for a Patriots offensive line that's trying to be more consistent in its pass protection.
Julio Jones - Jones has been just OK to open the year with a Falcons-best 25 catches for 367 yards, though he's yet to reach the end zone. Atlanta coach Dan Quinn wants to get Jones more touches, more touchdowns and more big plays and will likely try to make that happen against the Patriots NFL-worst pass defense.
Grady Jarrett - The Patriots had no answer for Atlanta's athletic defensive tackle last February when Jarrett recorded three sacks and four QB hits on Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The big man can be a big disruption for an opposing offense and New England must deal with him in both the passing game and in trying to get the ground game going.
Grady Jarrett - The Patriots had no answer for Atlanta's athletic defensive tackle last February when Jarrett recorded three sacks and four QB hits on Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The big man can be a big disruption for an opposing offense and New England must deal with him in both the passing game and in trying to get the ground game going.
