12-Year-Old Boy with Muscular Dystrophy Becomes a Chicago Blackhawk for a Day

Source: Chicago Tribune.

Miracles can happen in a lot of ways and Mason Berg had the best one yet. The 12-year-old from Midlothian, Illinois received the greatest news in his life. Having been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, Mason Berg defied the odds and became Chicago Blackhawks’ “youngest player” yet.

Mason Berg and his diagnosis of muscular dystrophy

Mason Berg is a 12-year-old boy who lives in Midlothian, Illinois. He has also been diagnosed with a chronic disease called muscular dystrophy. This particular chronic disease causes progressive weakening and loss of muscles. It is commonly seen in young boys and is mostly identified during childhood. Some cases may surface during adulthood.

However, despite this disability for a young boy, Mason Berg had never let his muscular dystrophy define and limit him. Together with his loving parents, Patty and Dan Berg, and supportive friends, Mason lives a normal life and is currently in Springfield School in fifth grade. Living in a wheelchair most of his young life, Mason loves sports and gives most of his love to ice hockey.

His love for the Chicago Blackhawks

As mentioned, Mason Berg has not let his muscular dystrophy hinder his love for sports. Particularly, he has grown fond of ice hockey and celebrates his ultimate love for the Chicago Blackhawks. According to Patty Berg, his mother, that he loves the team so much that he wanted to be a Hawk so bad. Also, his father has revealed that Mason plays video games all day with the Blackhawks on it.

Mason and his Dad watch all of the Chicago Blackhawks’ games all the time together. With his love for the team, Mason can name all of the players, own various jerseys, and can even shoot a puck on the ice rink. In order to skate around the rink, Mason rides his wheelchair with the proper gear on while being wheeled by his dad. His parents have been very supportive of Mason’s interests and see no judgment in their son.

Mason’s pleasant surprise

The Chicago Blackhawks partnered with Make-a-Wish Foundation to grant Mason’s long-awaited wish— to see the team live. Make-a-Wish Foundation has been known to grant any child’s wish who has been diagnosed with a critical and/or chronic illness. With the non-government organization’s kind donors and hundreds of volunteers, Mason Berg was up for the best surprise in his young life.

Mason Berg was currently attending a class in his school, Springfield School when his wish finally came true. The miraculous news was brought to him by Brian Campbell who is a former Chicago Blackhawks defense player and the current Hockey and Business operations liaison. On the day of his surprise, Mason was reluctantly wearing his very own Chicago Blackhawks jersey when Campbell surprised him with the news: Mason was going to be a Blackhawk for a day.