Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros
One 10-year-oldTom Bradysuper-fan from Utah credits the NFL star for lifting his spirits throughout treatments for brain cancer, which he was diagnosed with back in February.
Last month, the two crossed paths at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, when Noahmet Brady from the crowd.
Noah and his parents appear on Tuesday’sepisodeofThe EllenDeGeneres Show, where they shared their story and how Brady’s outreach meant a lot to them during the difficult time.
“Tom Brady’s like my hero,” said Noah. “He’s good on and off the field. He just seems like he’s a really good dad. He seems just like he’s a really good guy. And he’s broken a ton of records and stuff.”
Noah’s dad James recalled the exchange they had with the quarterback at the October game, “One father to another, I just wanted to tell him thank you.” Adds Noah himself: “That was everything. To see the person you’ve kinda looked up to for a long time walking towards you, it’s just amazing.”
PHOTO: Michael Rozman/Warner BrosPHOTO: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
During the talk show appearance, DeGeneres surprised the family with some gifts, including toys from Five Below plus a $1,000 gift card, as well as a check for $25,000 from Five Below to help cover medical bills.
In an Oct. 31tweet, Brady wrote, “Thank you for your inspiration Noah. We can all learn so much from you. You may not know it, but so many people in the world admire you for your courage and bravery and how you’ve dealt with a really tough situation. Thank you and your family for your beautiful blessing.”
In a post-game news conference after meeting Noah, the quarterback told reporters, according to theTampa Bay Times, “That was really sweet. Obviously, a tough kid. It puts a lot in perspective of what we’re doing on the field. In the end, it doesn’t mean much compared to what so many people go through. We all try to make a difference in different way, and I think so many guys commit time to their foundations and to doing good things for the world.”
He added, “I always think, ‘Do the best you can do, under any circumstance.’ It was nice to see.”
During hisEllenappearance, Noah said he is “feeling awesome” as he is cancer-free in remission.
source: people.com
