Solomon Barber knows that life can change in an instant. At the age of 13, he faced a health crisis that upended his world, leading to years of dialysis and a kidney transplant in 2020. But thanks to the support of Make-A-Wish, the 19-year-old from Rockwall is getting the opportunity of a lifetime—attending Super Bowl LVIII with his family.
"It was when I was 13, I crashed and didn't know what's going on, and it turns out my kidneys had completely failed," Barber, now a Sophomore at the University of North Texas said. "I had to go to the hospital for a week and live out dialysis for a few years until I finally got the transplant, and I am living my best life."
Now Barber and two other Wish Kids from North Texas are heading to Las Vegas for the NFL's big weekend.
The surprise announcement of his wish being granted was a moment he will never forget.
"It was actually kind of fun. Make-A-Wish had set up some sort of surprise meeting with my parents, and they sat me down and gave me some giant box, which was a little intimidating at first. I opened up, and there was some giant glitter with the exciting news of Make-A-Wish's Super Bowl," Barber shared.
For Barber, who grew up watching football with his family, attending the Super Bowl holds special significance.
"This is an important moment for me," he expressed. "Just spending the weekend in Vegas in general is just a trip that everyone wants to make, and not many people get it too."
And there is a full weekend of events planned for the Make-A-Wish kids.
In conjunction with Fanatics, the organization’s official sports partner, the National Football League (NFL), and other corporate partners have created an unforgettable itinerary for the Wish Kids and their families.
Wednesday, Feb. 7: Make-A-Wish and Fanatics will treat the wish families to a welcome party at Topgolf.
Thursday, Feb. 8: Fanatics has some NFL player-sized surprises in store for the wish families when they visit the Lids flagship store followed by a local card shop where they’ll get a trading card experience unlike any other. In the evening, the NFL will host the wish kids at NFL Honors, where they will get to feel like celebrities as they walk the red carpet.
Friday, Feb. 9: The NFL will host wish families at Allegiant Stadium for a behind-the-scenes tour and have free time to show off their football skills at the Super Bowl Experience.
Saturday, Feb. 10: Fanatics will host the wish families at their Las Vegas facility before the families explore the mysterious world of Meow Wolf.
Sunday, Feb. 11: The wish experience will culminate in the wish kids taking their seats in Allegiant Stadium to watch as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs go head-to-head in pursuit of the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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