NFL Star J.J. Watt Meets With Quadriplegic Fan After Facebook Campaign Goes Viral
J.J. Watt is perhaps the best role model in the NFL. When fans with special needs and special circumstances come calling he shows up. First there was the six-year-old fan who he “married” after her tearful YouTube please, then there was the 12-year-old cancer patient. This week J.J. Watt responded to a Facebook campaign that went viral.
The Facebook message was posted by Eran Melnik, a nurse who cares for a young man named Itzy Cagen.
In his post Melnik explains that Cagen has been a quadriplegic ever since being struck by a hit-and-run driver when he was just a toddler. Over the years Melnik has become one of Watt’s biggest fans.
In his post Melnik writes:
“During the season, every morning I would wake him up and he would announce ‘J. J. SWATT!!!’ Just thought you would like to know that he is out there and would love to meet you if at all possible. We understand that you are busy, but who knows?”
The post was quickly shared by thousands of people after comedian Jenny Johnson tweeted a link to Melnik’s post to her hundreds of thousands of followers.
After hearing nothing and nearly giving up hope the following simple message was posted by J.J. Watt at 3:34 p.m. on May 13:
“We will make this happen.”
Here’s the full post from the Facebook campaign:
On Monday J.J. Watt and Cagen spent the day together and eventually Melnik posted the following Facebook follow-up:
“Thank you so much JJ Watt for taking the time out of your busy schedule to make Itzy extremely happy!!”
Danny Cagen also tweeted a thank-you on behalf of his brother:
“@dannycagen: Thank you @jjwatt for taking time to make my brother’s day! twitter.com/dannycagen/sta…” <- it was my pleasure. Hope he enjoyed it!
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 21, 2013
Are you impressed with J.J. Watts continued acts of kindness?
