Eli Griffith, a 16-year-old from Ann Arbor, Michigan, had his wish granted when he met Tom Brady at Fanatics Fest in New York City. Eli, an aspiring journalist, was able to interview Brady and ask him questions about his career and interests.

A Heart Transplant Survivor’s Dream Come True

Eli underwent a heart transplant in 2024 after being diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation. During his hospital stay, he received visits from several Michigan football players, including Davis Warren, who played a game of HORSE with him in the hospital.

Brady, a former University of Michigan star and NFL legend, was introduced to Eli through the Make-A-Wish foundation. Eli’s parents, Joe and Jamie, are both University of Michigan alumni and had attended a Michigan football team autograph signing event, where they gave the players small fliers explaining Eli’s story and asking if they could reach out to him.

When Eli met Brady, he was able to ask him questions about his career, including his favorite type of ice cream (avocado ice cream) and which defender struck the most fear in him (Ray Lewis). Eli also gave Brady a magnet with a picture of him in a hospital bed with Brady cards in his hands and laying across his chest.

The meeting was made possible by Fanatics, which became the official sports partner of Make-A-Wish in 2023. The two organizations have combined to grant over 1,000 wishes, including Eli’s.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.