Football player rescues special needs boy during panic attack at stadium, mom says.

The Heartwarming⁢ Story of a​ Special-Needs Boy ‍and a Football Team

The mother‍ of​ a⁤ special-needs boy shared ‍a heartwarming story ‌last ‌week about her son’s encounter with a college football team.

“I don’t even know‍ where ⁢to begin,​ my heart is so full,” Mandy Moore Cosper ⁤wrote in an⁤ Friday Facebook post. “I’m still‌ in awe‌ over so many things from ⁣tonight.”

Cosper’s son, Colt,⁢ had been invited to‌ Victory Day at ⁤Iowa State University,‌ a ​special event in which the school’s football team showers love and attention on special-needs children.

“They try on helmets, sprint out of the ⁢tunnel and score a​ touchdown,” Eric Hanson of ⁣KCCI-TV wrote in⁣ a Facebook post of his own. “The kids LOVE it. Pure joy.”

But Colt was having a hard day. In fact,‍ every day‍ is a challenge for Colt, who has Doose Syndrome​ –“a rare and intractable form ⁢of⁢ epilepsy” that causes ⁢him to have up to 50 seizures a day, ​according to the Little Al Foundation website.

“This ⁣year was such a different⁣ experience from last year,”‌ Mandy Cosper wrote in her post. ​“Colt’s body is weaker…he tires out easily… he gets ⁤very overwhelmed with loud noise‍ and big crowds…He gets overstimulated very easily…He is not as social and‌ keeps ​more to himself.

“Colt ‍wasn’t feeling great⁣ tonight, he was sore from ⁣his‌ new feeding tube that was placed at the hospital earlier today, and was exhausted⁢ outside in the⁢ heat.

“Colt lost‌ his balance, and fell down the cement stairs coming out of the locker⁤ room. His arms ‍and legs were scraped and bleeding. He was sobbing ⁢from ‍the pain and embarrassment of the ‍fall.

“He had a ‌full-blown panic attack when​ he‍ was announced on the field. I carried him out with⁤ his head buried in ⁣me, ⁢his body shaking and his teeth sinking into⁢ my ‍shoulder. The noise from the band⁢ and announcer was ‍too much, he⁢ was crying and⁤ begging me ​to take him away from the noise.”

“I thought we were going‌ to have to leave,” Mandy⁤ Cosper wrote.

A Saving Grace

That’s​ when the ISU football‌ team and coach Matt Campbell stepped in and saved ⁣the day.

They ⁤paired Colt with “our favorite player,” offensive lineman Oluwafunto ⁢“Funto” Akinshilo, ‌a‌ red-shirting offensive lineman ⁢ who‌ is from Lagos,⁤ Nigeria.

Colt​ quickly calmed down and joined ⁤in on the fun, his⁤ mother said.

“He was‍ a gentle giant, and couldn’t be more perfect for Colt,” the boy’s mother wrote. “He⁢ was so patient and kind, with the biggest ‌heart. He ‌was‌ trying to⁣ make ⁢the⁤ night perfect for Colt‍ and our family.”

Akinshilo gave Colt and his ‍sister Presley ISU hats. He gave Colt a football, as well as his own football ⁤gloves.

“Colt literally thinks they are magic,” Mandy wrote, regarding the gloves.

“When being around so ‍many people and all of the loud noise on the field became too much ⁤for Colt, Funto hung out‌ with Colt up in the stands where it was quieter.

“He​ even took ‌us to a quiet space and showed⁤ Colt and PJ a⁣ big statue of ⁤Jack Trice. He played with ​my wild one (Presley) and included her in all of the fun.

“It’s ​not always easy and comfortable being around special kids like Colt,” she wrote of Akinshilo. ‌“He was an absolute natural,‍ and didn’t ⁤seem a bit ⁣phased by some of ​Colt’s behaviors.”

Mandy ​Cosper shared a photo of ‍one special moment between Colt⁤ and Akinshilo, ⁢in which the‍ large ​athlete is gently dabbing at‌ the‌ little boy’s ⁢mouth with the hem of Colt’s⁣ football jersey.

KCCI’s Eric Hanson was one of‌ many ‌who have been​ touched by ⁢the ⁤scene. “That’s more than ⁣a ⁢chin ​wipe,” he wrote. ‍“It’s compassion within minutes ​of meeting a child.”

Hanson shared the note Colt’s mother⁢ had sent him, explaining the⁤ significance of the moment.

“Mandy Cosper sent it to ⁤me and ⁤writes, ‘Hi! I saw you ⁣at ISU ‌Victory Day and wanted to ⁢share a picture of my son with football player Funto Akinshilo,” she told Hanson. “Colt has a⁤ neurological disorder that causes ‌him to‍ drool a lot. I was getting ready‌ to take a picture of the two of them, and Funto⁢ stopped me, because he​ noticed Colt⁢ had some drool on ​his chin.

“He wiped his chin, and it was one of the​ sweetest moments I’ve ever experienced in my life.’”

Hanson said he believes the ⁣ISU ‌ football players love Victory Day as much as their young visitors — and they possibly love ​it even more. “This⁢ picture is proof,” he wrote.

Mandy Cosper said ⁣she wishes more⁣ college teams would hold events like⁤ ISU’s Victory Day.

“It is not only meaningful to ⁤the children with special needs, but it’s an experience that will help⁤ the​ players walk away ⁣with a new outlook and understanding of⁢ children with unique needs,” she wrote.

“I was crying​ the entire ‍time watching the joy shared between⁤ the football players and kids on the field. It was absolute ⁢magic.”

The post‍ ‘Gentle Giant’ Football Player ​’Saved ⁣the Day’ When Special Needs Boy Had​ ‘Full-Blown Panic ⁣Attack’ at ‌Stadium, Mom ⁣Says appeared ‍first on⁢ The ⁣Western Journal.