Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players brighten days of Primary Children's Hospital patients

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz Bear says goodbye to Maddy McEwan, 10, after visiting with her in her room at Primary Children's Hospital. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Kellen Hedler, 3, reaches out to high-five Utah Jazz Bear during a short visit with he and his father Michael Hedler. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
l-r Reagan Perkins is wished a speedy recovery by Utah Jazz player Derrick Favors and head coach Quin Snyder after a visit short visit with her and her mother Erin Perkins. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheeliní Jazz visited Primary Childrenís Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Kannon Klein, 2, is too shy to reach out to the basketball that Rodney Hood gives him. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Bella Wardle, 16, of Farmington is all smiles as she beats a drum during an impromptu music therapy session with Jazz Bear who played a melody on the ukelele. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Jazz assistant coach Johnnie Bryant visits with Harrison O'Toole, 6, who admitted he styles his hair after Jazz player Gordon Hayward. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

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Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz Bear says goodbye to Maddy McEwan, 10, after visiting with her in her room at Primary Children's Hospital. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Kellen Hedler, 3, reaches out to high-five Utah Jazz Bear during a short visit with he and his father Michael Hedler. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Reagan Perkins is wished a speedy recovery by Utah Jazz player Derrick Favors and head coach Quin Snyder after a visit short visit with her and her mother Erin Perkins. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheeliní Jazz visited Primary Childrenís Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Kannon Klein, 2, is too shy to reach out to the basketball that Rodney Hood gives him. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Bella Wardle, 16, of Farmington is all smiles as she beats a drum during an impromptu music therapy session with Jazz Bear who played a melody on the ukelele. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families. Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Jazz assistant coach Johnnie Bryant visits with Harrison O'Toole, 6, who admitted he styles his hair after Jazz player Gordon Hayward. Players from the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz visited Primary Children's Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving and allow the organization to deliver holiday cheer to patients and their families.

· December 16, 2016 1:43 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah Jazz and Salt Lake City Stars players and coaches, as well as America First Jazz Dancers, Jazz Bear and members of the Wheelin' Jazz stopped by Primary Children's Hospital to lift kids' spirits. The annual Christmas hospital visits are part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving initiative.