Making a Husker Dream come true

By Tribune Staff              Saturday, Sep 13, 2008

A Fremont teenager is getting the royal treatment at the Nebraska game today thanks to a local ambulance company.

A ride in the Midwest Medical Transport Co.’s Husker helicopter had to be postponed from Friday until Wednesday due to the weather, but no weather will stop Grant Brimmerman, 16, from going to the game.

Grant has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. He participates in the Nebraska Make A Wish program.

Today, Grant and his family will be transported to Parkers Smoke House in Ashland for his favorite food - barbecue wings. From there, the family will be taken to Memorial Stadium where they will watch the New Mexico State game from Midwest Medical Transport Co.’s skybox.

"I’m excited to go to the game because I’ve never been to one," Grant said Friday while talking knowledgeably about many college football teams. "I’ve been to Midland games, but never to a Division 1 game."

Not only will this be his first game, it also will be his first time in a luxury box.

"It’s pretty special," Grant said. "It’s not too often you get to sit in a suite."

He might even get to go through the tunnel and out onto the field if arrangements his father Roger made pan out.

The game was a surprise to Grant and his family.

Earlier this year, Grant was given a shopping spree at Best Buy through Make A Wish where he outfitted his room with electronics.

"I wasn’t expecting them to do another big thing," Grant said. "They did enough the first time to last forever."

His mom, Barbara, got the call about the game.

"I said, ‘You know, he’s already had his wish,’" Barbara said. "I was surprised and honored they would think of Grant the second time. Make A Wish and Midwest Medical has gone over and above."

This is the second week in a row that Midwest Medical Transport Company has taken a Make A Wish child to a Nebraska game, said Jay Wilger, marketing manager.

"The company’s been very fortunate around the state and we do have access to skybox seats," Wilger said. "We talked to the Make A Wish people and we decided to have a whole Husker theme."

He said during last weekend’s game, Johnny Rogers and Larry the Cable Guy stopped by the box for a visit.

"There will be visits by VIPs and ex-Husker players," Wilger said.

There also will be plenty of pizza and hot dogs in the box, he said.

"What was really nice about this situation is that we have the availability to transport someone in a wheelchair," Wilger said.

Grant said he hopes to meet some players and possibly even Larry the Cable Guy.

"I’m looking forward to seeing how big the players are," Grant said. "I never thought I would go to a game."

Today will change Grant’s usual Saturday routine, but he said he’s excited to see a game in person.

"I usually wake up and turn the TV on to College Game day (on ESPN) and watch that until 11," Grant said. "The rest of the day I watch football."

reposted from the Fremont Tribune