Larry Fitzgerald helps boy celebrate end of cancer treatment
by abc15.com staff
GLENDALE, AZ — A 9-year-old boy from South Dakota is celebrating his end of cancer treatment and he got a special congratulations from one of Arizona’s biggest sports stars.
Tennyson Erickson was diagnosed in February of 2017 and had to endure two surgeries, three ER visits, three bone aspirations, 21 spinal taps, 10 different chemo therapies, and three blood transfusions.
On Thursday, May 28, after 1,206 days in treatment, Tennyson threw on his #11 Larry Fitzgerald jersey and rang the bell at Stanford Children’s Castle of Care Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, signifying the end of his treatments.
The celebration didn’t end there. As a surprise, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Fitzgerald got on a Zoom call with Tennyson and congratulated him personally.
In 2018, a then-7-year-old Tennyson flew from his hometown of Platte, South Dakota, to Phoenix to visit his hero, Fitzgerald.
The trip was made possible through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ESPN’s My Wish series.
Tennyson was in the middle of a grueling battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he visited the Cardinals mini-camp in Tempe.
He got one-on-one time with Fitz and got to hit the field with the rest of the team. He even signed a contract with owner Michael Bidwill and participated in team photos.
The two kept in touch ever since they’d met in Tempe. Tennyson attended multiple games in Minnesota when the Cards faced the Vikings there. He sat in the front row at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 6 of the 2018 season.
At the game, Tennyson caught a game ball Fitzgerald tossed to him during a break.
He also attended games in Glendale, like when the Cards faced the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football in 2019.
