Brady discusses bond with terminally ill fan

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FOXBORO -- A feature by ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi on the relationship between Tom Brady and a terminally ill boy from Connecticut named Logan Schoenhardt that aired before Monday night’s game was so moving people are discussing it two days later.

Scoenhardt, who’s had multiple surgeries on his head to battle tumors that won’t let up, asked his doctor to engrave Brady’s jersey number on his skull this past spring.

His doctor, figuring that a boy who’d been through so much and faced so much still, would benefit from having this simple request honored. So it was done. The piece is well worth the time investment. 

Asked about Schoenhardt today during his press conference, Brady said, “He is a special young man. Just to have a chance to know his story has been very humbling and certainly gives me a lot of perspective, and certainly all of us a lot of perspective on the very difficult challenges a lot of families face, and certainly that he has faced,” Brady said. “It’s very tough circumstances but he has showed a lot of courage under some very trying circumstances, so it was great to get to meet him. I sent him a video I think in March of April of this year, and then had a chance to meet him this fall. He’s a sweet young boy.”

Between moments like he shared with Schoenhardt, other Make A Wish opportunities and his Best Buddies Challenge involvement, Brady seems to relish the chances to associate with younger fans who are facing difficult health trials.  

“When you’re in the position, certainly as a professional athlete, a lot of guys use it as a great way to express their views on a lot of different things,” Brady said. “There are so many blessings that we all have and to have a positive impact on people and children in different ways, and whichever way you can do that. This was one particular way. I said earlier, a lot of time you feel like you get more out of it than they do at the end of the day because of how touched you are and the kind of perspective that you gain from it. It’s always nice to be a part of something really special and unique like that, and I’m happy always to play a small part in trying to make those types of things happen.”

Brady sure does seem like a good ambassador for the NFL. No wonder the league has done such a terrific job making sure he’s celebrated for his contributions to the game and his community. #ThanksRoger

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