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A Minnesota high school student born with cerebral palsy had his dream come true.
Carson Maneval’s football coach, Nick Courneya said, “Two weeks ago, Carson reached out to me and asked if there was any way he could be involved in our homecoming game this year.”
Carson was born with cerebral palsy. But he doesn’t let it hold him back— he wasn’t sure his dream of suiting up would ever happen.
“His senior year, homecoming day– we were willing to make anything work to get him on the field,” said Courneya.
Maneval was given the chance to wear the hometown colors and be part of the homecoming game.
He said: “Getting to put those pads on and getting to be on the same field is going to be a whole new world for me, I’ll tell you that much. Hey, if I touch the football, good. If there’s any way I can get across the goal line, that’d be just a dream come true for me.”
Maneval and the team stepped off the bus and with the support from the community and his friends taking him all the way, Maneval not only crossed the goal line, but crossed into hornet history.
“The sacrifice they’re willing to make, to give up something for the benefit of another, it’s soul touching,” Courneya said. “That’s what’s been great to see about this group of young men.”
This touchdown meant more than a number on a scoreboard
“I’d just like to say, ‘Thank you’ to all of them,” Maneval said. “I mean, those two words don’t mean enough for what people do for me every day.”
Interestingly, the team has lost the last three games but on Friday night, Carson must have been a good luck charm. They won 43 to zero!