Some people may say DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles is a big kid. The Eaagles’ star wideout had a break out season a few season’s ago when he became All-Star Michael Vick’s favorite target. Jackson was a highly recruited five star athlete out of long beach, California. Despite his record breaking speed, his jaw dropping highlights, the Eagle star soars to new highlights when he hosted now 10 year old Donovan Troy, a young boy from Georgia who was born with a severe form of sickle cell anemia. Sports Center hosted nine-year old Donovan Troy from Fairburn, Georgia who has been dealing with sickle cell anemia but has not lost his love of sports. Like Jackson, he wore the #10 to honor his favorite football player. Despite his major accolades you would have forgot that Jackson was a star athlete as he danced and embraced Troy with his teammates by his side. It wasn’t a one man gig, the entire Eagle organization were court-side for what was a great show by the former California wide out.
Doctor’s told Donovan Troy that he would never be able to play sports, diagnosed with a deadly form of sickle cell anemia. His spleen was removed and has to get monthly monthly blood transfusions. “He’s still alive thats a blessing, there are so many kids with this disease that die”-Tara Smith Donavan’s mother. Donovan was watching some of DeSean’s football high lights when a youtube message popped up from none other than DeSean Jackson inviting the youngster to the Eagles Camp.
Donovan played the “message to my boy” over and over again just to make sure he wasn’t hearing things, and said he didn’t believe it with a big smile on his face.
Troy even caught a pass for perennial all star Michael Vick.
Make-A-WishMake-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Based in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 38 minutes. It has granted more than 212,000 wishes since its inception in 1980, nearly 14,000 in 2011 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, children with life-threatening medical conditions have the opportunity to live out their sports wishes. ESPN is turning sports wishes into realities.
