KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: If you'd like to donate to Make-A-Wish of East Tennessee, click here.
We are less than six months away from the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and we are excited to start the countdown with a special series to benefit Make-A-Wish of East Tennessee.
Make-A-Wish creates changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Like the athletes in the Olympics -- these children face adversity with bravery, determination and lots of support.
For the next six months leading up to the Summer Olympics, we are teaming up with children from Make-A-Wish East Tennessee to show you that they, too, have the hearts of a champion.
Wednesday's featured kid is named Brodie Bridge. He will be teaming up with WBIR's John Becker and will cheer him on as he trains at D1 Knoxville in track and field.
At 15 years old, Brodie likes playing his drums, listening to music and playing video games. All of these things have been a much-needed source of distraction since Aug. 2023, when he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer.
"We have been going through chemo treatments since August and they're intense," his mother Brianna Adams said. "That's the roughest part of this. Every 2 weeks we go in for him to get chemo. One time we go in 5 days and the next 2 to 3 biweekly. In-between weeks we go to infusion, so we're in the hospital at least every week. That's been hard."
Brianna said it's been tough watching the toll the treatment has taken.
"When he was a little bit sicker before it was hard on him, obviously. He's never had a bad attitude, it's just he's worn out and you can't blame him for that. There are times he doesn't want to go get the treatment," she said.
Since he can't hang with his friends, Brodie interacts with them by playing video games, which is why his wish from Make-A-Wish is a customized computer.
"I would get to pick out the parts for my computer and someone would build it," he said. "I'd ld like it to support VR and be able to stream."
For Brodie and his mom, the past six months have been rough but they've also brought them closer in ways they never imagined.
"That's very difficult watching your child, especially 15 years old, telling me he can't go through it. That's really hard for any parent but for one who can talk to me on a different level. He's very mature so he thinks out. He has thought out every step of the way," she said.
"It's good. She supports me throughout the day. I mean, sometimes I can't get up or get my own drinks or I can't do anything, so it's a level of support I've never had to have before," Brodie said.
If you'd like to help future wishes like Brodie's, you can donate to Make-A-Wish East Tennessee at this link.