GOOD NEWS: Alex Bregman’s Hidden Heroics Revealed—Quietly Paying Hospital Debts for 50 Young Cancer Patients in New Mexico, Saving Families from Homelessness and Inspiring a Nationwide Wave of Tears
Alex Bregman’s Quiet Act of Compassion Lifts Dozens of New Mexico Families Out of Crisis
When Alex Bregman steps onto a baseball field, the Boston Red Sox third baseman is known for the thunder in his bat and the intensity in his eyes. But away from the lights and cheers, Bregman recently delivered a gesture that will echo far beyond any home run highlight.
According to hospital administrators and grateful parents in Albuquerque, Bregman quietly paid off medical debts for 50 young cancer patients across New Mexico. The donations—kept private until families began sharing their stories—have cleared tens of thousands of dollars in outstanding bills, giving struggling parents the rarest of gifts: relief.
“It felt like a miracle,” said Maria Lopez, whose six-year-old son is in remission after a yearlong battle with leukemia. “We were months behind on payments. The stress was unbearable. Then one day the hospital called to say our balance was zero, covered by someone who wished to remain anonymous. We later learned it was Alex Bregman. I just cried.”
Hospital staff described Bregman’s approach as meticulous and humble. Rather than announce a large donation, he worked quietly through a local foundation and hospital billing offices to identify families on the brink of financial collapse. Many were facing eviction or bankruptcy as they tried to keep up with the relentless costs of pediatric cancer care.
“This wasn’t about publicity,” said Dr. Evelyn Carter, a pediatric oncologist who facilitated the process. “Alex wanted to remove a burden from families so they could focus on their children, not collection notices.”
Word of Bregman’s generosity spread after several parents shared their gratitude on social media. Photos of tearful mothers holding zero-balance statements went viral, sparking a wave of admiration that reached far beyond baseball circles. Fans from rival teams flooded comment sections with praise, calling Bregman’s actions “the best play of his career.”
Bregman, who grew up in Albuquerque and still maintains deep ties to New Mexico, eventually acknowledged the donations but deflected the spotlight. “It’s about those kids and their families,” he said in a brief interview before Friday’s game. “If this helps them breathe a little easier, that’s what matters. Baseball’s my job. Helping when you can—that’s just being human.”
Teammates weren’t surprised. “Alex has always been about more than the game,” Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña said. “He works hard, competes hard, but he never forgets where he came from.”
The timing of Bregman’s gift resonates as communities nationwide grapple with rising medical costs and the emotional toll of childhood illness. Advocacy groups hope his example will inspire other athletes and public figures to take similarly direct action.
“People think making a difference requires a massive organization,” Dr. Carter said. “Sometimes it’s one person quietly stepping in, no cameras, no speeches—just compassion.”
For the families whose lives were changed, Bregman’s heroics are not measured in RBIs or playoff wins but in nights of restful sleep and the simple ability to dream again. “He gave us hope,” Lopez said, her voice breaking. “And hope is everything.”
3 Lightning Standouts From Orlando Game vs Panthers
Another annual preseason bout in Orlando has come and gone, and the Tampa Bay Lightning took down the Florida Panthers at the Kia Center, 3-2. Like last preseason, the Lightning pulled out a one-goal win.
With the game now in the books, let’s look at some standouts and bring their performance into the greater scope of the preseason. This list does not reflect the three stars of the game. The goal is to dig a little deeper and explore a player’s significance beyond just this night’s performance.
Jakob Pelletier
So far, Jakob Pelletier looks like a promising addition for the Lightning. He scored his second goal of the preseason to pick up the team’s third and game-winning score on the night. He’s gotten himself on the scoresheet twice in three games played.
Both of his goals have come in clutch situations, with his first being a game-tying goal against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 23. It bodes well for someone looking to crack the NHL roster out of camp.
Pelletier is a 2019 first-round pick who is looking to finally find his footing in the NHL. With Nick Paul out with an injury for the first month of the season, the door is wide open for playing time to start the season. So far, he’s made a nice impression, sticking around as other players fall victim to roster cuts in training camp.
Even beyond filling in for an injury, seeing Pelletier succeed now is a promising sign for improving depth across the forward lines. The top-heavy Lightning could have a chance to strengthen the bottom six if Pelletier can be unlocked.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
Each time he gets on the scoresheet should help build the excitement for what the Lightning can get out of Oliver Bjorkstrand. The 30-year-old forward opened the scoring in the game with a power-play goal in the first period. It was the lone special teams goal from either team, and he earned the first star on the night.
He fired a game-high five shots in the game, doing his best to put the pressure on. In total, he’s tallied two goals and two assists for four points on the preseason campaign.
The Lightning picked up Bjorkstrand, alongside Yanni Gourde, ahead of last season’s trade deadline. However, he saw his season come to an early end due to developing compartment syndrome. The ailment kept him out of playoff action, which created a crucial what-if following another first-round exit. Another solid night during the preseason provides promise that he’ll have a chance to be the impact player the Lightning hoped he would be this upcoming season.
Darren Raddysh
The 29-year-old defenseman did what he could to get in on the scoring action in Orlando. He assisted on Bjorkstrand’s goal and fired four shots on net during the game. So far in the preseason, he has a goal and two assists for three points.
Over the last two seasons, Raddysh has become a bigger factor in the scoring game, picking up at least 30 points and 20 assists each time. In 2024-25, he set a career high in points with 37 despite playing nine fewer games than the previous season.
His points per game went up from 0.40 in 2023-24 to 0.50 in 2024-25. So far, he’s picked up where he’s left off. Seeing that consistency early on should help build confidence in the Lightning’s scoring depth.
The Lightning are seeing production without the assistance of their top stars in the preseason. It’s not a fully guaranteed sign that they’ll look this good in the regular season. After all, competition will be different, and fully NHL-level talent. That being said, games such as this one help give the team an idea of what they can potentially expect in the regular season and help decide who is most likely to make an impact. Play well now, and you’ll have a chance to prove you can keep it up in the regular season.
