Page 8 - HFA Dateline 2022 Q1 Spring

INSPIRING IMPACT
On the Field
Robbie Klein designs a pair of cleats for Patriots
quarterback Mac Jones.
BY MELANIE PADGETT POWERS, MANAGING EDITOR
In gale-force winds on December
6, 2021, the New England Patriots
beat the Buffalo Bills during Monday
Night Football. But more important
to the bleeding disorders community,
Patriots rookie quarterback Mac
Jones was wearing new cleats
designed by seven-year-old Robbie
Klein, who has severe hemophilia A
with inhibitors.
As part of the NFL’s My Cause, My
Cleats program, various players wore
specially designed cleats during their
games that December week. Each
player chose a cause to support, and
their cleats were later auctioned off
to raise money for their charity.
Robbie was contacted after Jones
selected Boston Children’s Hospital.
8 DATELINE FEDERATION < www.hemophiliafed.org
Robbie is a “frequent flyer” at the
hospital, his mom, Kayla Klein, said,
so he was on staff’s mind after they
learned Jones had selected them.
Hospital staff reached out to the
Klein family—which includes dad Joel
and younger son, Eddie, age 4—to
ask if Robbie wanted to help design
the shoes.
Hospital staff helped Robbie design
the cleats, which are covered in blue
swirls. The sides of the cleats say
“Robbie stayed up and watched the
whole game, which I don’t think he’s ever
been up that late in his life.”
—Kayla Klein
“Boston Children’s.” Robbie’s first
name is on the top of the right shoe
in his own handwriting. Robbie chose
to write the motto “Be Brave,” which
is on the left shoe.
“We thought ‘be brave’ spoke to his
journey with hemophilia really well,”
Kayla said.
The Kleins also shot a couple of
videos with Robbie and Eddie to
raise awareness for Boston Children’s
Hospital. “Robbie was thrilled, but
Eddie was also pumped,” Kayla
said. “It’s important to us to always
include Eddie. Eddie’s a part of our
family too, even though he doesn’t
physically have hemophilia. In all the
videos you see and wherever we are,
Eddie’s always there.”
The day of the game, a local news
station interviewed the Kleins
before the family sat down to watch
the game. “Robbie stayed up and
watched the whole game, which I
don’t think he’s ever been up that
late in his life,” Kayla said. “It was just
a really nice experience to be able to
watch as a family and share it with
the community.”
Because of COVID-19 protocols,
the Klein family didn’t meet Jones
during the NFL season, but they
are hoping to meet him one day.
In a Patriots.com article, Jones said,
“I’ll eventually get a chance to meet
[Robbie] and hang out with him
and all that. For now, I just wanted
to make sure I had something …
to represent him and show that