A 12-year-old North Carolina boy’s dream came true over the weekend when he became a quarterback for a day for the Carolina Panthers with help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Jase Garland is a major Panthers fan, and after he contracted a rare blood condition called myelodysplastic syndrome, he told Make-A-Wish that his dream was “to be a quarterback” for his favorite NFL team.
The Panthers in turn came together to turn Jase’s wish into a reality.
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Jase got to sign a contract with the Panthers and shared fist bumps with his new teammates in the locker room before he went to work.
In the team gym, the 12-year-old lifted weights and even hung out with the Panthers’ star quarterback Bryce Young.
Then, it was time for Jase’s big on-field moment. Jase took a handoff from Young, made a jump-cut to the left, and walked into the end zone for a touchdown.
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The Panthers all rushed out to congratulate the 12-year-old on the field, capping off the perfect play.
Myelodysplastic syndromes “are a group of cancers in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells,” the National Cancer Institute states.
The immature cells die in the bone marrow or shortly after entering the bloodstream, leaving “less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets to form in the bone marrow,” potentially leading to infection, anemia or “easy bleeding,” according to the NCI. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, weakness or fatigue, skin that is paler than usual or bruises easily, or petechiae, spots that appear under the skin caused by bleeding.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are diagnosed through a series of blood tests and bone marrow biopsies, as well as an examination of personal and family medical history, the agency states. Treatment options can include supportive care, drug therapy, and stem cell transplant, according to the NCI.
Jase’s mom Erin Garland told the Panthers her son had a bone marrow transplant in May 2024, about four months after receiving his diagnosis in January that year.
More than a year out from his procedure, Garland said her son “is looking good right now, so far.”
“It was a really quick and scary process,” she said, noting Jase has been “taking this like a champ because he’s had to be away from everybody for so long.”
“I’m impressed,” she added. “I’m very impressed by him.”
ABC News’ Melanie Schmitz contributed to this report.
