T.J. Oshie Makes A Wish Come True
By Kate Cimini
Following up on a story we linked to earlier this week, the St. Louis Blues have released a video of T.J. Oshie and Chris Hendrickson. Hendrickson is a teen from North Dakota who, through the Make A Wish Foundation, wished to meet his idol, Blues star, T.J. Oshie.
He became a Make A Wish Kid due to his affliction with Morquio A Syndrome. From the Blues’ website:
"Morquio A Syndrome, an inherited medical disorder in which his body’s cells are unable to break down glycosaminoglycan molecules (GAGs). When GAGs aren’t broken down and removed as waste, they deform the cells and cause all sorts of issues. In Hendrickson’s case, his bones, eyes and heart valves are affected.It’s a debilitating condition that’s left him standing barely three feet tall. He shuffles a bit when he walks because his bones aren’t strong enough, but other than that, he doesn’t let anything slow him down.“He’s very brave. He just takes everything as it comes. Not a whole lot phases him,” [Denise Johnson, Hendrickson’s mother,] said. “It doesn’t matter that he’s a different size or anything. To his friends, he’s just Chris.”"
Hendrickson has been a fan of Oshie’s ever since he was seven or eight years old, watching Oshie as a Fighting Sioux at the University of North Dakota’s games. (He presumably saw Oshie’s teammate Jonathan Toews there, too, but had the good taste to idolize Oshie over the future Blackhawk.)
In the video below, Hendrickson not only gets to meet his idol, but the rest of the team as well. He was invited to their practice to watch from the bench, and later onto the ice in a shooting competition against Oshie. (Spoiler alert: Hendrickson won. It was awesome.)
As a bonus, he sat in the press box during game time, watching his favorite player score once again in person. After the game, Oshie presented Hendrickson with the puck from his goal, as well as his game shirt.
Pretty much the last thing any 14-year-old boy wants to be called is adorable, but it’s hard to find another word that suits Hendrickson. Watch for yourself.
Oshie himself has a habit of working with charities to improve children’s lives, such as his collaboration with March of Dimes on his cereal, Oshie O’s. You can read about that in the link below.