DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (WGN) — When Staley the Bear, Cole Kmet and the Chicago Bears drumline burst through the door Tuesday, 14-year-old Jonah Davis received a surprise of a lifetime.
“I was like, ‘What is going on?'” Davis said. “I didn’t know this was for me, this is pretty cool, and I almost started getting a video, but then the mascot pointed at me and took me inside the shop, and Cole Kmet was there.”
Davis was born with a rare congenital heart defect where his heart ended up being short one ventricle, meaning he can’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood thoughout his body like the average joe can.
In his 14 years so far, Davis has had three open heart surgeries and his condition prevents him from playing contact sports, but he did recently start playing flag football and Davis said he never misses a game.
On Tuesday, Kmet, Staley, the Bears drumline and Advocate Healthcare surprised Davis at one of his favorite places — Mark’s Card Shop in Downers Grove.
After the initial wave of excitement resided, the group announced Davis and his family will be going on an all expenses paid trip to see the Monsters of the Midway take on the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix this Sunday.
Afterward, Kmet said he was glad to play a part in making a young man’s day.
As the family plans to take off for the game, they said they’re hoping for a convincing Bears win, even though Mom is overjoyed just from the outpouring of love their family has felt from the kind gesture.
“Just overwhelmed, just overwhelmed from the first phone call, and consumed by all the planning in between,” she said. “I think I’ve cried every conversation, every text message, every thought — we never expected Jonah to experience this and the look on his face, [we’re] just so overwhelmed.”
The Bears take on the Cardinals Sunday in Phoenix, where kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. CT.