Posted on 04/21/2013 8:21:50 AM PDT by Zakeet
On Saturday, East Carolina produced a big, heart-warming moment. This one was centered around Noah Roberts, an eight-year-old who in 2010 was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that has resulted in the child needing to have two tumors removed from his brain and one from his spinal cord.
Roberts, a big Pirates fan, has been out to ECU to watch football practice several times over the past two years. On Saturday morning at 9:15 a.m. on the day of the Pirates' annual Purple-Gold Spring Football Game, Roberts was invited into a meeting with Ruffin McNeill.
The Pirates head coach had been informed that Roberts was scheduled to go back to the hospital for more treatment Sunday and, understandably, the third grader had a lot of anxiety about it.
"Look, Noah, I have something to ask you," McNeill said, before telling Roberts he wanted to put him into the game as a ball-carrier.
[Snip]
Riley called "Blue Right 34 Lead" and motioned for Roberts to follow No. 87 Zico Pasut through the hole. Roberts, wearing No. 32, did just that and raced 40 yards for a touchdown as the crowd cheered.
After Roberts reached the end zone, the team hoisted him on their shoulders and chanted "NOAH! NOAH!"
"Noah is the coolest, calmest, bravest kid I've ever met," said McNeill Saturday night, as his voice cracked while talking about the young man. "His mom told me, 'Coach, you don't know how much this means to us.' I said, 'You don't know how much this means to us.'
"She was doing us a favor by showing us what life is all about. We've learned what toughness and courage are all about by seeing how Noah is. He is an inspiration to us."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbssports.com ...
Personally, I needed to see a story like this after the events of the past week.
Amen!
.........thanks so much for posting this wonderful story!
it reminds me of one reason I hang out on Free Republic!
My God what some kids are forced to go through! With watery eyes, I’m shaking my head!
Great story. I’m impressed that an eight year-old kid knew exactly how to carry that football, too!
Darn screen got all blurry, Zakeet. NOAH! NOAH! NOAH!
So true! What a fine thing to do, God Bless the coach and team.
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