NASHVILLE – Jacob Martin and two of his Titans teammates visited Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt on Tuesday to brighten the day of cancer patients.
Yet when the players left, they felt like they were the ones who'd been uplifted.
"We were there to support them," Martin said, "but if anything, they brought a smile to our faces even more.
"It was a bright spot on my year, I know that. You can't help but smile and laugh and have a good time with the kids there. I know we all enjoyed it. It was great."
Martin and fellow Titans defensive ends Jermaine Johnson and Truman Jones spent over 90 minutes at the hospital, stepping into at least a dozen rooms to meet children ranging from two to 20, all being treated for cancer.
The Titans kicked off Crucial Catch week on Monday night, when they hosted patients and their families from the Monroe Carell Junior Ambassador Program for a Crucial Catch Family Fun Night at PopStroke, which was attended by Titans defensive ends Femi Oladejo and Keldric Faulk. In addition to that event and the hospital visit on Tuesday, the Titans will continue their Crucial Catch activations throughout the week, volunteering at Hope Lodge and hosting a Pink Lemonade Stand prior to Sunday's game. All proceeds will benefit the Vanderbilt Breast Center.
Martin, Johnson and Jones spent time with the patients and their families on Tuesday, when they played with Play-Doh, got tattoos from one of the children, and talked about sports.
"I met the best tattoo artist in all of Nashville," Johnson said of one of the patients, a peel-off tattoo still visible on his skin. "She works for free, too."
The Titans also cheered on a 16-year-old as she rang the bell, marking a significant treatment milestone.
"Just being there with all the kids, they were in such high spirits, same goes for their families, smiling in tough times and the kids shining through it all," Johnson said.
"Being there, it definitely puts everything in perspective. If these young kids can have this energy and outlook in their situation, then you should really check yourself with whatever you are going through."
All three players said the patients knew a lot about the Titans, asking questions about the team, the new uniforms, and the new stadium.
At one point, one of the patients asked about defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, her favorite player.
So, the group FaceTimed Simmons for a quick conversation.
"Our goal was to go there and uplift them," Jones said, "and do what they wanted to do, some arts and crafts or play games. And we left all left there thinking: When and where can we get more involved?
"It was awesome visiting the kids. Just seeing how excited they were to see us, and just how positive they were in the hospital. Their energy and their excitement, it really was contagious. It was a memorable day."
