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It's a simple answer to a simple question to 6-year-old Evelyn “Evie” Johnson: “What was the best part of your trip to Chicago?”
Evie – who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March – and her family enjoyed a special weekend that included a visit to Halas Hall, meeting Bears players and attending Sunday's game against the Patriots. But for those close to Evie, her answer is a given.
Evie lived in White Salmon, Washington, with her parents, Kyle and Whitney, who met while attending the University of Washington, and developed a passionate fan base for them Rome Odunze while he was a receiver for the Huskies.
A fan base that grew from hearing Odunze's voice on television shows, seeing his bright blonde hair on the sidelines, and watching the talented wideout play for Washington soon turned into a form of support for Evie as she got married this summer underwent cancer treatment.
After a particularly challenging day in June, Kyle went into Evie's bedroom to comfort his daughter. Evie told her father she was upset that Odunze — who was drafted by the Bears in April — was no longer a Husky. She thought she would never see him play football again.
“It kind of broke my heart but at the same time made me smile, which I needed at the time,” Kyle said. “She doesn’t really understand the whole college versus NFL thing, so my reaction was just, ‘It’s sad. We loved him. He's a great player and a really great person in every way, but aren't we really?' “Are you happy that he can continue to play football and pursue his dreams?” I think that helped her in some way. “Oh, that’s a good thing for him.”
Kyle captured the moment on his phone for his own keepsake and posted the video on social media to share with the Husky community. It didn't take long for Odunze to spot the post.
