Teen with cerebral palsy meets Yankees thanks to classmates

Saturday, May 6, 2017
BRONX (WABC) -- A high school senior from North Carolina, a die-hard Yankees fan with cerebral palsy, fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams Wednesday night.

Christian Heavner wanted to go to a Yankees game, and thanks to his classmates, he finally did.
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He could have gone anywhere on earth, but he was right where he wanted to be on the field at Yankee Stadium, hanging out with the guys.

"Christian is right where he wants to be, right here," his mom said. "This has been unbelievable. I'm so overwhelmed."

Brett Gardner and Chase Headley stopped by to say hello, and so did Didi Gregorious and Adam Warren.

Just about all of the baby Bombers came over during batting practice, where Christian looked on from the big screen in center and from right there on the field. He got autographs and so much more.
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He sat in the afternoon sun and took it all in: the sounds and the love.



The group that put it all together is called Dream on 3, which makes sports dreams come true for children like Christian. And more so, they empower other kids to help make it happen.

"They are learning that it's (about more than) self, it's about others and giving and doing," Dream on 3's Elizabeth Lindsey said. "And when they put something together of this magnitude, they end up being gifted."

Cerebral palsy, it seems, limits Christian's mobility, but not his gratitude.

"It means everything to me," he said. "I've been a Yankees fan since I was a young boy, and this means everything. And I appreciate it."
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