Brandon's wish is the 10,000th granted by UAW-GM and General Motors during their 10-year partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® . To celebrate this wish milestone, Brandon rode on the UAW-GM float in America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day 2008.

Barry Sanders, the legendary Detroit Lions running back, retired from the NFL on July 27, 1999. One-hundred and fifty miles away, in Rodney, Mich., a little boy named Brandon had just celebrated his first birthday.

Neither had any idea that, 10 years later, they would meet when Sanders made Brandon’s fondest wish come true.

Brandon loves playing football with his friends – but more than that, he loves watching football with his family. And he loves Barry Sanders.

“Brandon was too young to ever see Barry play in a game, but he’s watched him hundreds of times on his dad’s videotapes,” Brandon’s mom, Darlene, said. “His dad’s told him all about Barry, and they watch those tapes over and over.”

The courage and strength Sanders inspired in Brandon would come in handy in February 2008, when doctors gave the family some devastating news.

“We checked him into the hospital at night, and at 2 a.m. the doctors told me he had Burkitt’s lymphoma,” Darlene said. “I was so angry. It broke my heart to have to tell him. He started chemo first thing the next morning because the tumors were that aggressive.”

Brandon and his mom spent many days and nights in a hospital an hour away from their home. Still, he kept his spirits up and made an effort to walk every day, even when he was in the most pain. And he always managed to cheer on his favorite team.

“I don’t think he’s ever missed a Lions game [on TV],” Darlene, said. “It’s our Sunday tradition.”

When Brandon learned he was eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he quickly decided to meet his football hero.

“[Barry Sanders] is my favorite player because of all his jukes and dodges and how he runs with the ball.” Brandon said. “[Knowing I could meet him] made me glad. It was really something to look forward to when I was in the hospital.”

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, the Lions invited Brandon to attend a practice. They presented him armfuls of Lions merchandise, which the players soon covered in autographs. Brandon chatted with coach Rod Marinelli and players Drew Stanton, Michael Furrey and Jason Hanson. They also gave him more souvenirs, including a football, wristbands and gloves.

“I know you are here to see your favorite stars, but with your toughness, you’re the real star,” Furrey told him, after tossing him a few passes.

Two days later, Brandon entered Ford Field, ready to watch his first Lions game in person.

“It was weird seeing how big [Ford Field] was – it was a lot bigger than I thought,” Brandon said. “We had really good seats and the game was awesome. I liked seeing all the long passes and the short passes and the tackles and the running!”

At halftime, Brandon and his family went to a private suite where Sanders and his two children were waiting to greet them.

“I was kind of nervous because I was used to seeing him on TV, but not in real life!” Brandon said. “He asked me what the Lions could do to win this year. I told him, ‘Work on their defense.’”

“Barry was just so nice,” Darlene added. “He talked with [Brandon and his dad] about hunting and what kinds of things Brandon likes to do for fun. I just sat back, smiling. I couldn’t believe it was happening.”

Brandon’s wish is only the beginning of things he’s thankful for. On Thanksgiving Day, he will be in Detroit to ride on the UAW-GM float in America’s Thanksgiving Parade as part of the 10,000th wish celebration. Brandon and his family then will attend the Lions’ annual Thanksgiving Day game – something they’ve watched on television every year.

And Brandon has one more reason to celebrate this Thanksgiving: His lymphoma is in remission. For Brandon, wishes definitely do come true.