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“I Wish to attend a home football weekend at Notre Dame”
Scott, age 14
Scott was planning for the future – the year 2004 specifically. Since the age of four, Scott had dreamed of attending the University of Notre Dame. Being diagnosed with leukemia a year ago hadn’t changed those plans. So when Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteers Michael and Michele Carson met with Scott regarding his wish, it came as no surprise when Scott wished to attend a home football weekend at Notre Dame.
A trip to South Bend, Indiana was in Scott’s future so Michael and Michele went into action. Scott’s fourteenth birthday was coming up and plans were made for Scott to celebrate his birthday during his trip to Notre Dame. On a Wednesday in September, Scott and his family boarded American Airlines to begin his wish. His first full day on campus, Scott toured the campus and met with University president Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., in his office. A meeting with Coach Davie was scheduled on Friday afternoon. The big game between Notre Dame and Purdue was the following day and Coach Davie invited Scott to have dinner with the team and attend the pep rally that evening. Jokingly, Coach Davie asked Scott if he was ready to speak at the pep rally. Without hesitation, Scott replied, “Yeah.” In front of a standing room only crowd of 12,000 Scott spoke from his heart. “Through these last nine months, I’ve had a lot of times where I was feeling just terrible. To get through this treatment, what helped me a lot is positive thinking. What inspired me a lot is this university, and how I know I’m coming back here one day.”
The next day was the big game and as Scott walked through the stadium, fans called out his name and asked him to pose for photos. In front of a sold-out crowd of over 80,000 football fans, Notre Dame defeated Purdue (23 -21) with a field goal in the final play of the game. Post-game locker room spirits were high and the game ball was presented not to a football player, but to an inspirational young man from San Diego.
A few weeks following his trip to Notre Dame, Scott was hospitalized again; the leukemia was no longer in remission. In an open letter in the campus newsletter, Coach Davie wrote, “In my 25 years of coaching, I’ve been fortunate to meet some very remarkable people. None, however, has made a bigger impression on me than Scott.” Coach Davie went on to ask the students of Notre Dame to extend their positive thoughts to Scott. Hundreds of e-mails, countless letters and packages poured in.
More aggressive treatments were launched against the leukemia. None proved successful and a bone marrow transplant was the next step. Efforts were mobilized to find a donor match for Scott – but a match was not found. Hospitalized on Christmas night, Scott continued his battle against the cancer. After a month-long stay, Scott was sent home to be with his family. Sadly, Scott passed away on January 29th.
Notre Dame is a school that takes pride in its Irish qualities of grit, determination and tenacity – qualities that Scott demonstrated until the end. The class of 2004 will not have the honor of Scott’s presence, but Notre Dame and all of us who had the privilege of knowing this young man will never forget his strength and spirit.