I surprised my son with tickets to his dream football game—when he pointed at the kiss cam and said, “Mom, that’s daddy!” I went pale.
For almost two years, my son Jerry, eight years old, watched every football match from a hospital bed or from our couch as he battled cancer. He made a promise to himself that after treatment ended, he would watch his favorite team play live.
However, with the cost of medical bills, purchasing two stadium tickets was out of reach for my husband, Adam, and me.
Then, three months after Jerry was declared cancer-free, my boss gave me two near-field tickets. He was originally going to attend Sunday’s game, but a sudden emergency kept him away.
Tears almost came to my eyes.
My husband was unable to join us. The day before, he had left for a five-day work trip to another state, so I decided not to tell him about our outing and planned to surprise him with photos of Jerry after the match.
Jerry was happier than I had ever seen him.
He screamed, cheered, enjoyed a huge hot dog, and said, “Mom, we’re actually HERE!”
During a timeout, the stadium music blared and the Kiss Cam began showing different couples in the crowd.
Jerry laughed at a man trying to avoid the camera, then suddenly tugged at my sleeve.
“Mom!”
“What?”
He wasn’t smiling anymore.
He pointed at the big screen.
“Look! That’s Daddy!”
I almost laughed it off.
“Jerry, daddy’s in another state.”
“No! LOOK!”
I looked up.
My heart skipped a beat.
Adam’s face filled the stadium display.
My husband, who earlier called from his “hotel,” was in fact sitting less than one hundred yards from us.
Then the camera panned slightly, revealing who was beside Adam.
I went pale.
Of all the people I could think of being next to Adam, this one was entirely unexpected.
Before I could process it, Jerry stood up suddenly.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
“Mom…”
He pointed at the screen again.
“Daddy gave HER my thing.”
I stared blankly.
“What thing?”
“Look!”
Examining the screen closely, I realized exactly what Jerry saw.
My stomach dropped.
Adam was perfectly aware of the importance of that object to Jerry, especially after the battles those past two years.
“Jerry, wait—”
But he was already on his feet.
He pushed through the row, heading straight for the aisles.
I followed, but Jerry had located Adam’s section and wouldn’t slow down.
Moments later, he stood directly before his father.
Adam looked up.
The color left his face.
Then Jerry did something I never imagined he would.