Utah Teen’s Fighting Irish Dream Comes True
SOUTH BEND — A Utah teen with a life-threatening heart condition had his Fighting Irish dream come true over the weekend.
Thanks to Notre Dame and Make-A-Wish, the 17-year-old was given exclusive access to all things Notre Dame football.
If anyone has played like a champion, it’s been 17-year-old Jack Salmond.
Jack was born with four profound heart defects that led him to have three open-heart surgeries. The surgeries came with complications, which is why the weekend hit home for Jack and his parents.
“Just sweet, just sweet…we’re just really grateful,” said Patty Salmond, Jack’s mother.
Jack developed his passion for the Fighting Irish when he was about 10 years old.
“My brother-in-law went to school here at Notre Dame,” Jack said. “He just made me like Notre Dame.”
Jack went behind-the-scenes Thursday, getting an all-access pass to the Joyce Center and stadium.
“Jack was on the waiting list,” said Jennifer Laiber, with Notre Dame’s internal communications. “He did not want to change, didn’t want to go to Disney World. He said nope, I’m staying on the list and want to come next year.”
Reggie Brooks joined the tour and even shared a few locker room secrets with Jack.
“It was really cool to have him here,” Jack said. “When I first saw him, I was like, ‘Whoa, you’re still here?'”
And then came the moment Jack had been waiting for.
“It’s a great experience, I like it,” Jack said. I’ve always wanted to come here and be on the field.”
Jack had never been to a Notre Dame game before.
“He’s watched on his iPad, he watches pep rallies, he watches team meetings, he watches everything,” Patty said. “So he’s excited to just be there.”
Now, Jack is truly one of the Fighting Irish.
Source: WTHR