Browns make 9-year-old’s dream come true (Photos)
The Cleveland Browns made 9-year-old Dylan Sutcliffe’s dream come true.
Dylan, who was diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia (A-T), a rare genetic disorder, told the Make-A-Wish Foundation that his dream was to play for the Browns. That dream became a reality as he signed a one-day contract on Tuesday morning.
“We are excited to add another quality player to our roster as we prepare for the 2015 season,” said general manager Ray Farmer. “When we first connected with Dylan, it was clear he was a competitor who had all of the right attributes to be a contributor to our team.”
Added head coach Mike Pettine: “Dylan is definitely a young man who has all of the ‘Play Like a Brown’ traits, particularly through his passion, toughness and relentlessness. We look forward to seeing him bring that energy to practice this afternoon.”
Dylan, who watched film with Farmer and had a private coaching session with Pettine, is set to join the team on the practice field later in the day. He’ll also be given his own locker in the Browns locker room.
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According to the Browns website, Dylan, a native of Lyndhurst, Ohio, was joined by his parents, Derek and Jennifer, his grandparents, Dennis and Mary, and his four-year-old brother Sean. Sean also has A-T.
Per the Browns, A-T affects many organs in the body and results in neurological issues.
Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a primary immunodeficiency disease that affects a number of different organs in the body. A rare, recessive genetic disorder that affects between one out of every 40,000-100,000 children worldwide, A-T is a progressive ailment that is characterized by neurological problems, particularly abnormalities of balance, recurrent sinus and respiratory infections and dilated blood vessels in the eyes and on the surface of the skin. Patients also typically have immune system abnormalities and are very sensitive to the effects of radiation.
Dylan’s big day is a part of the Browns’ “First and Ten” community service campaign, which celebrates its first anniversary this week.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
