Construction worker still waving at hospitalized Iowa City kids during offseason

IOWA CITY — A construction worker is making sure kids at the children’s hospital in Iowa City are still getting their wave from the field.

Hawkeye fans and players started a new tradition last season by waving at patients in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Justin Mason didn’t want it to stop after the season.

Mason is a lifelong Hawkeye fan. He’s currently contracted as a union carpenter and is working on the Kinnick Stadium renovation. With football season being over, he decided to add a new dimension to the wave tradition with spray paint. 

Behind all the construction materials, heavy duty trucks and jackhammer noise at Kinnick Stadium. 

You can find Justin Mason standing out from it all. It’s not because of his good sawing skills, but what he’s wearing. 

“I kind of came up with the idea to put a hand on there, just as a small gesture,” said union carpenter Jason Mason.

Mason spray painted a wave hand on his safety vest to support the kids at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

“You know just a small gesture and keeping the wave during the off season you know we’re rebuilding the stadium to keep the tradition alive,” said Mason.

Keeping the tradition alive is just one of the reasons why he’s doing it. He knows the pain some of those kids and their families are feeling. His son was at one point hospitalized there.

“He had a fast heart rate and he had some episodes. Me and my wife were at the hospital for about 21 days at a time,” said Mason.

And wearing his wave vest everyday is his way to cheer them up. 

“The struggles up there that they have a lot of people don’t have a clue. And being there firsthand it’s rough,” said Mason.  “Cause kids have something to look forward too.”

For now, game days and crowd noise have temporarily been traded for the sounds of labor. But patients looking down at the stadium can still get their wave.

“We’re taking time out to think of you,” said Mason. “You know i think it’s still important even in the off season too.”

And maybe the best part of it, the kids now get to enjoy the wave at least 5 days a week.

“The tradition is wonderful. I mean being a part of this is awesome. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever been on,” said Mason.

Mason’s hoping to schedule an actual wave during a break with his crew soon.

And he’s also working on putting up banners with the hand on fences at the construction site.