TEAM EFFORT: Cowboys fan and cystic fibrosis patient Patrick Aspinall, with girlfriend Nicole Buckley, will get to visit Cowboys training camp. (
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America’s Team is about to become America’s Dream for one of its biggest fans.
Cowboys backer Patrick Aspinall, 26, is a victim of cystic fibrosis. He needs a double lung transplant to survive. During this dark time — his health failing, the medical bills piling up — girlfriend Nicole Buckley has teamed with the Cowboys to bring some much-needed joy to his life.
“Patrick and I first met in 2009 while he was traveling in NYC, and we began falling in love while running around … a music festival in his home state of Tennessee,” said Buckley, also 26. “We were determined to give [a long-distance relationship] a try.”
For two years, the couple would take turns flying from Tennessee to Los Angeles.
“Little did we know the last flight Patrick would take out to Los Angeles to visit would be a one-way ticket,” Buckley said. “Only a few days after he landed, Patrick experienced a lung collapse that put him in the hospital for six weeks and caused irreversible lung damage.
“These days Patrick spends most of his precious time at the hospital or resting at home, often struggling to do things many of us don’t even think about — like taking a walk or cooking dinner. As he progresses into the end stage of cystic fibrosis, there are no more options left, and a double lung transplant is necessary for survival.
“Despite an increasing number of hospital admissions and multiple ICU stays, he never has given up the fight — and most importantly — has never lost hope. Despite his healthy appearance and sunny disposition, he is suffering.”
Patrick has learned to live within his limited capabilities, but he needs an oxygen tank nearby to make sure he isn’t working too hard to breathe.
“Patrick has finally been approved to receive a double lung transplant at USC Hospital in Los Angeles,” Buckley said. “While this opportunity is an indescribable blessing, the surgery is estimated to be $1.2 million, and even with insurance covering most of the cost, Patrick will need to raise funds to cover those expenses not provided: co-pays, family visits, at-home care and hospital fees.”
To learn more or make a donation, visit http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/0tm2/patricks-breath-of-new-life.
Buckley recently learned the Cowboys train in nearby Oxford, Calif. After reading about Aspinall, Cowboys vice president of public relations and communications Rich Dalrymple told the Rumble on Friday night that Patrick would be welcome to visit if he is able to make it.
Patrick doesn’t know it yet, but he will be there Wednesday.
SNY contest features Hernandez scorecard
SNY is launching a unique “Watch and Win” contest featuring the network’s Emmy Award-winning analyst Keith Hernandez’s scorecard. The “Watch and Win” challenge will take place during a Mets telecast on SNY — where Hernandez is in the booth — and feature a trivia question related to the former Mets All-Star.
Once the trivia question is revealed on-air, fans can submit their answer via Twitter to @SNYtv and include the hash tag #ScorewithKeith. In honor of Keith’s uniform number, the 17th correct response will win a scorecard signed by Hernandez. All of the winners will have their picture displayed — with their one-of-a-kind signed scorecard — on SNY’s Facebook page.
Pele gets special Subway card
When soccer legend Pele was introduced as Subway’s newest global ambassador earlier this week, he received one of the first new black cards from the brand. Unlike the yellow and red cards which are synonymous with soccer disciple, this black card will keep Pele in the game wherever he travels, giving him “Captain” status at Subway’s across the world. Pele’s influence may be already rubbing off on the U.S. national team, which has won 11 straight games, while gearing up for the World Cup in 2014.
Pele’s favorite sandwich? Six-inch Tuna, with cream cheese (available in Brazil), on Italian bread.