He’s wrapping up the regular season this weekend, but Cam Newton took a moment away from the practice field to visit a young fan in the hospital.
The Carolina Panthers QB heard about 10-year-old Austin Deckard, a huge Auburn football fan that is gearing up for an important surgery. Deckard is battling advanced pulmonary hypertension and was scheduled to have a stint put in his heart on Wednesday (December 28).
Courtney Cooper, one of Deckard’s teachers, started campaign on social media in an effort to get in touch with Newton so that the pair could meet.
“Just before Thanksgiving, I was headed to an Auburn football game,” Cooper wrote on Facebook.
“Austin was in awe of this. He also told me he ‘wished Cam Newton could come to his birthday party.’ Austin may not ever make it to an Auburn football game but I know social media is a strong force that can make things happen. Let’s use it for something positive and spread this like wildfire and somehow, someway get the word to Cam Newton and give this precious little boy his wish.”
Well, it worked. Newton chartered a jet and flew to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to meet up with the boy before his surgery.
Said Newton, per the Ledger-Enquirer: “I thought I had an unknown number but dude I’ve gotten about 100 calls about you.”
Newton also brought Austin a bag of gifts including signed memorabilia.
Check out the heartwarming video below!
For Taylor Deckard, a 10yo boy battling a severe heart condition, his Christmas wish was to meet @CameronNewton. Today his wish came true. pic.twitter.com/1MNmpdNLk4
— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) December 28, 2016