{"id":2017921,"date":"2023-08-31T10:44:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T14:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gentle-giant-football-player-saved-the-day-when-special-needs-boy-had-full-blown-panic-attack-at-stadium-mom-says\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T10:46:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T14:46:30","slug":"gentle-giant-football-player-saved-the-day-when-special-needs-boy-had-full-blown-panic-attack-at-stadium-mom-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gentle-giant-football-player-saved-the-day-when-special-needs-boy-had-full-blown-panic-attack-at-stadium-mom-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Football player rescues special needs boy during panic attack at stadium, mom says."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgentle-giant-football-player-saved-the-day-when-special-needs-boy-had-full-blown-panic-attack-at-stadium-mom-says%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2017921&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Heartwarming\u2062 Story of a\u200b Special-Needs Boy \u200dand a Football Team<\/h2>\n<p>The mother\u200d of\u200b a\u2064 special-needs boy shared \u200da heartwarming story \u200clast \u200cweek about her son\u2019s encounter with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dances-with-wolverines\/\" title=\"Dances With Wolverines\">college football team<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t even know\u200d where \u2062to begin,\u200b my heart is so full,\u201d Mandy Moore Cosper \u2064wrote in an\u2064 Friday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mandy.moorecosper\/posts\/pfbid0kCATtHDryB8KaF2raNPkKSHTfipD7WGSsjUkrzWJV96fpEzftVsvWQ88apsW5xvol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook post<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m still\u200c in awe\u200c over so many things from \u2063tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cosper\u2019s son, Colt,\u2062 had been invited to\u200c Victory Day at \u2064Iowa State University,\u200c a \u200bspecial event in which the school\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gentle-giant-football-player-saved-the-day-when-special-needs-boy-had-full-blown-panic-attack-at-stadium-mom-says\/\" title=\"Football player rescues special needs boy during panic attack at stadium, mom says.\">football team showers love<\/a> and attention on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/selfless-santa-9-year-old-boy-pulls-off-christmas-miracle-hospitalized-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special-needs children<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThey try on helmets, sprint out of the \u2062tunnel and score a\u200b touchdown,\u201d Eric Hanson of \u2063KCCI-TV wrote in\u2063 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=858091999012287&#038;set=pb.100044344840250.-2207520000&#038;type=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook post<\/a> of his own.\u00a0\u201cThe kids LOVE it. Pure joy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But Colt was having a hard day. In fact,\u200d every day\u200d is a challenge for Colt, who has Doose Syndrome\u200b \u2013\u201ca rare and intractable form \u2062of\u2062 epilepsy\u201d that causes \u2062him to have up to 50 seizures a day, \u200baccording to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.littlealfoundation.com\/colt-cosper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Little Al Foundation<\/a> website.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis \u2063year was such a different\u2063 experience from last year,\u201d\u200c Mandy Cosper wrote in her post. \u200b\u201cColt\u2019s body is weaker\u2026he tires out easily\u2026 he gets \u2064very overwhelmed with loud noise\u200d and big crowds\u2026He gets overstimulated very easily\u2026He is not as social and\u200c keeps \u200bmore to himself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cColt \u200dwasn\u2019t feeling great\u2063 tonight, he was sore from \u2063his\u200c new feeding tube that was placed at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rolling-stones-members-skip-drummers-funeral-stay-in-boston-rehearsing-for-tour\/\" title=\"Rolling Stones\u2019 Members Skip Drummer\u2019s Funeral, Stay In Boston Rehearsing For Tour\">hospital earlier today<\/a>, and was exhausted\u2062 outside in the\u2062 heat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cColt lost\u200c his balance, and fell down the cement stairs coming out of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/kamala-harris-roasted-cringy-locker-room-speech-team-just-suffered-brutal-march-madness-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">locker\u2064 room<\/a>. His arms \u200dand legs were scraped and bleeding. He was sobbing \u2062from \u200dthe pain and embarrassment of the \u200dfall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe had a \u200cfull-blown <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/service-dog-senses-owners-panic-attack-proves-incredible-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">panic attack<\/a> when\u200b he\u200d was announced on the field. I carried him out with\u2064 his head buried in \u2063me, \u2062his body shaking and his teeth sinking into\u2062 my \u200dshoulder. The noise from the band\u2062 and announcer was \u200dtoo much, he\u2062 was crying and\u2064 begging me \u200bto take him away from the noise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought we were going\u200c to have to leave,\u201d Mandy\u2064 Cosper wrote.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>A Saving Grace<\/h3>\n<p>That\u2019s\u200b when the ISU football\u200c team and coach Matt Campbell stepped in and saved \u2063the day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-embed\">\n<\/div>\n<p>They \u2064paired Colt with \u201cour favorite player,\u201d offensive lineman Oluwafunto \u2062\u201cFunto\u201d Akinshilo, \u200ca\u200c red-shirting <a href=\"https:\/\/cyclones.com\/sports\/football\/roster\/oluwafunto-akinshilo\/12441\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">offensive lineman<\/a> \u2062 who\u200c is from Lagos,\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nigerian-player-gets-chance-make-nfl-discovering-football-youtube-just-5-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nigeria<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Colt\u200b quickly calmed down and joined \u2064in on the fun, his\u2064 mother said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cHe was\u200d a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-in-first-network-interview-since-leaving-wh-trump-honors-late-rush-limbaugh\/\" title=\"BREAKING: In First Network Interview Since Leaving WH, Trump Honors Late Rush Limbaugh\">gentle giant<\/a>, and couldn\u2019t be more perfect for Colt,\u201d the boy\u2019s mother wrote. \u201cHe\u2062 was so patient and kind, with the biggest \u200cheart. He \u200cwas\u200c trying to\u2063 make \u2062the\u2064 night perfect for Colt\u200d and our family.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Akinshilo gave Colt and his \u200dsister Presley ISU hats.\u00a0He gave Colt a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/hs-football-coach-arrested-loses-certification-troubling-game-incident-caught-camera\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">football<\/a>, as well as his own football \u2064gloves.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cColt literally thinks they are magic,\u201d Mandy wrote, regarding the gloves.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen being around so \u200dmany people and all of the loud noise on the field became too much \u2064for Colt, Funto hung out\u200c with Colt up in the stands where it was quieter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u200b even took \u200cus to a quiet space and showed\u2064 Colt and PJ a\u2063 big statue of \u2064Jack Trice. He played with \u200bmy wild one (Presley) and included her in all of the fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s \u200bnot always easy and comfortable being around special kids like Colt,\u201d she wrote of Akinshilo. \u200c\u201cHe was an absolute natural,\u200d and didn\u2019t \u2064seem a bit \u2063phased by some of \u200bColt\u2019s behaviors.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mandy \u200bCosper shared a photo of \u200done special moment between Colt\u2064 and Akinshilo, \u2062in which the\u200d large \u200bathlete is gently dabbing at\u200c the\u200c little boy\u2019s \u2062mouth with the hem of Colt\u2019s\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/college-football-player-changes-last-name-stepdad-overcome-emotion-reads-jersey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">football jersey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>KCCI\u2019s Eric Hanson was one of\u200c many \u200cwho have been\u200b touched by \u2062the \u2064scene. \u201cThat\u2019s more than \u2063a \u2062chin \u200bwipe,\u201d he wrote. \u200d\u201cIt\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/op-ed-cant-compassion-fatigue-ukrainian-families-torn-apart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">compassion<\/a> within minutes \u200bof meeting a child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hanson shared the note Colt\u2019s mother\u2062 had sent him, explaining the\u2064 significance of the moment.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMandy Cosper sent it to \u2064me and \u2064writes, \u2018Hi! I saw you \u2063at ISU \u200cVictory Day and wanted to \u2062share a picture of my son with football player Funto Akinshilo,\u201d she told Hanson. \u201cColt has a\u2064 neurological disorder that causes \u200chim to\u200d drool a lot. I was getting ready\u200c to take a picture of the two of them, and Funto\u2062 stopped me, because he\u200b noticed Colt\u2062 had some drool on \u200bhis chin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe wiped his chin, and it was one of the\u200b sweetest moments I\u2019ve ever experienced in my life.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"firefly-embed\">\n<\/div>\n<p>Hanson said he believes the \u2063ISU \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/coach-suspends-football-related-activities-historically-black-college-seeing-locker-room-rap-video\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">football players<\/a> love Victory Day as much as their young visitors \u2014 and they possibly love \u200bit even more. \u201cThis\u2062 picture is proof,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Mandy Cosper said \u2063she wishes more\u2063 college teams would hold events like\u2064 ISU\u2019s Victory Day.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt is not only meaningful to \u2064the children with special needs, but it\u2019s an experience that will help\u2064 the\u200b players walk away \u2063with a new outlook and understanding of\u2062 children with unique needs,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was crying\u200b the entire \u200dtime watching the joy shared between\u2064 the football players and kids on the field. It was absolute \u2062magic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The post\u200d <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gentle-giant-football-player-saved-day-special-needs-boy-full-blown-panic-attack-stadium-mom-says\/\">&#8216;Gentle Giant&#8217; Football Player \u200b&#8217;Saved \u2063the Day&#8217; When Special Needs Boy Had\u200b &#8216;Full-Blown Panic \u2063Attack&#8217; at \u200cStadium, Mom \u2063Says<\/a> appeared \u200dfirst on\u2062 <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The \u2063Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The mother of a special-needs boy recently shared a touching story about her son&#8217;s interaction with a college football team. Mandy Moore Cosper expressed her overwhelming emotions in a Facebook post, stating that she was still amazed by the experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2022,"featured_media":2017922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2017921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2022"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2017921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017921\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2017922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2017921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2017921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2017921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}