Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SAN JOSE — We will never stop watching videos about making a sick kid’s dream come true, because those videos do something special for us as humans.
We all know what it’s like to have a fondest wish. And the only thing that trumps that wish is the hope that our fondest wish will actually come true, whether or not we think we deserve it.
So it speaks directly to our heart of hearts when a child — whose life is somehow made difficult through no fault of their own — reacts with joy or is moved to tears as their dreams come true, because we know what it’s like to wish and we know they deserve a break.
Sam Tageson was born with a heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means he has two heart chambers instead of four, according to the Contra Costa Times.
"It's supposed to be debilitating," said Sam’s mother, Lisa Mills.
But 17-year-old Sam has also been a hockey fan his whole life, and he’s been playing the sport against doctor’s orders since he was 6 years old.
Last week, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sam was signed to his favorite team — the San Jose Sharks — for one day.
He participated in team practice, skated onto the ice with the team through their famous shark head and he stood on the blue line for the national anthem.
“No way to top today,” Sam said during his own media scrum.
And the look on his face as he waved to the crowd is beautiful to behold.