Health: Boy Meets His Hero Mike Trout After Undergoing Surgery

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A big homecoming Tuesday night in New Jersey for a little boy who went to California for surgery to save his vision and where he also got to meet his hero Mike Trout, the baseball star who's also from Millville.

The family just got home after spending three weeks in California. That was the only place that offered hope to save the boy's vision and it's also where our hometown hero is now playing.

Talk about a doubleheader!

Eight-year-old Thomas Walkup is already seeing better to hit baseballs just weeks after surgery in California to fix a congenital condition called Nystagmus, where the eyes constantly dart back and forth.

Thomas says the operation was a success and didn't hurt and, "I don't need to sit in front of the classroom and I can be like everybody else."

Before the surgery the third grader who lives in Millville, NJ was able to see some by turning his head.  His mom Susan Banks says, "I was told there was nothing you can do."  But she eventually found a doctor at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California Irvine Medical Center to perform the surgery that removed muscles that cause the eyes to shake.

A week after the surgery, Thomas went to a Los Angeles Angels game and got to meet his hero -- baseball star Mike Trout, who's also from Millville.  On meeting Trout, Thomas says, "It felt special because I bet not too many people flew out to California to meet Mike Trout."

It was Trout's parents who still live in Millville and know Thomas' family who set up the meeting.

And the baseball All-Star even kicked in $2,500 to help cover expenses for the family.

Susan says when Thomas was able to really watch the game, that's when the goosebumps started.  "It was overwhelming and being so grateful and humble and watching him say, 'mom look at this ball, and it's going,' every moment was just tears to me," Susan says.

Thomas' eyes are still healing, doctors say his vision should continue to improve.  And he has big plans to follow in Mike Trout's footsteps.

Monday night Thomas' sister had a surprise welcome home party for him at a local fire hall, people in Millville saying they now have two hometown stars.