Teen with cancer blown away by backyard makeover, then opens special gift from NFL team
Lots of kids love to throw the football around in their backyards.
For 15-year-old Azriel Wasser, he can now do it on a field named for him.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida unveiled Wasser Field on Thursday, constructed in the back yard of the Boca Raton, Florida teen’s home.
Make-A-Wish President Norman Wedderburn said it was a unique wish.
“It’s a first of a kind, but one of a kind for us,” Wedderburn told WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Wasser, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor more than a decade ago, had his backyard transformed into “Wasser Field,” a customized football field complete with synthetic turf, goal post and an electronic scoreboard.
FIELD OF THE DAY:
Thanks to Make-A-Wish Southern Florida @makeawishsfla we were able to help create “Wasser Field” for Azriel Wasser (white shirt in pic). We’re so happy to make this 15-year-old’s dream of having his own backyard football field come true! pic.twitter.com/PlrkuMKLiY— FieldTurf (@FieldTurf) March 27, 2018
Crews from Sports Turf One and their partners worked for nearly a month to install the 65-foot long, 20-foot wide field.
It took three weeks to assemble the field and it included several logistical challenges — none bigger than keeping it a secret from Wasser.
In addition to the field, Wasser scored big with gifts from his favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs sent a football autographed by quarterback Jameis Winston, along with a jersey, a helmet and a personalized video message from tight end Cameron Brate.
Out in Boca today as @makeawishsfla grants a 15-year-old his wish to have a football field in his backyard. The end product is pretty amazing. pic.twitter.com/87uXxHCT7O
— Ryan DiPentima (@Ryan_DiPentima) March 26, 2018
Azriel was blown away by the generosity.
“Thank you so much,” the teen said, per the Palm Beach Post. “This was beyond anything I asked.”
The boy’s father, Yehuda Wasser, also expressed his gratitude. “It’s an experience now and a joy and a nice opportunity in a great direction,” he said.
His mother, Batsheva Wasser, said her son has been cancer free for 2 years.
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