Special Olympics Athlete Meets Hero Dwyane Wade
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It was a big night for a lot of basketball fans in Minnesota as the Miami Heat came to the Target Center to battle the Timberwolves.
It's fun for anyone to see the NBA's best team, but it made for an amazing experience for one St. Paul teenager.
Thirteen-year-old Tess Mountain's family started a Facebook petition to get her to meet her hero, Dwyane Wade. Her sister, Bridget, says the petition quickly took off.
"People just shared it, and 'Liked' it. It just kind of caught on, and people just kind of just helped us out," Mountain said.
Tess's three sisters and two brothers turned to social media to create a buzz. About one week later, she was sitting on the Heat's warm-up bench.
"I think she's a little stunned still," Mountain said.
With her brother Jack and her sister Bridget by her side, Tess watched her favorite player in action. According to her mother, Sara, Wade has inspired Tess to play basketball.
"She playing basketball for the Special Olympics now at this point," she said.
Tess has a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart, facial features and skin. But on Monday night, she was a super fan waiting to meet the man that makes the game special for her
After the game, Wade sat down with Tess and her family at the Target Center. He chatted with her and signed some autographs.
