Posted 12:50 pm Friday, September 12, 2008
Nolan Goodwin Treated To Special Day By Dallas Soccer Team
After a summer of battling a dreaded disease, 7-year-old Nolan Goodwin of Tyler was treated to a special day by the FC Dallas soccer team in Frisco.
Although the Hoops lost to the Columbus Crew, 2-1, the team scored big in the heart and memory of Nolan.
Nolan, a member of the Upward Soccer Team "Lil' Cheetahs", spent much of the summer at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. He was diagnosed and treated for a tick bite that resulted in the dreaded bacterial infection, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The FC Dallas players came to visit him at the hospital the day Nolan lapsed into a comatose state. They left him a team photo and a promise to bring him to a home game at Pizza Hut Park.
On an August day, FC Dallas' Michael Dello Russo called Nolan and invited him and his family to the park. Both Dello Russo and Brian Gonzales, FC Dallas player representative, had a big night planned for Nolan and his family.
Nolan and his mother, Donna, were escorted onto the field during pregame. Nolan was then presented a FC Dallas jersey.
"We were there for the girl singing the national anthem," Nolan said. "They have this really big blow up longhorn bull that I thought was to jump on, but the starters ran onto the field through it. Michael and some Crew team members came over to say hi to me and give me five. It was really cool."
After the game, Dello Russo took Nolan into the team locker room.
"Michael had to take a shower so he let me watch their Big Screen TVs, then he introduced me to some of the other guys," Nolan said.
Dello Russo then awarded Nolan ?his actual game jersey -- which he autographed.
"It was really sweaty but my brothers all said it was the greatest gift ever," Nolan said.
It was a memorable night for Nolan.
-- Phil Hicks
-- Phil Hicks
