12-Year-Old Boy With Heart Condition Leads Favorite NFL Team to Victory
Josiah Moore showed his football skills to the Raiders' coaches and players.
— -- One 12-year-old boy battling a life-threatening heart condition had the experience of a lifetime when Macy's and Make-A-Wish partnered to give young Josiah Moore a chance to join his favorite NFL team's roster.
Josiah's parents, Steven and Myesha Moore, told ABC News their son was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says develops during pregnancy when the left side of the heart does not form correctly and affects normal blood flow through the heart.
Since Josiah was born he has had three open-heart surgeries, his most recent when he was just 4 years old. It was after that surgery that Josiah received his first Oakland Raiders jersey and became a full-blown football fanatic.
Since then, his love of the team has grown and he cheers on the Raiders with a full heart every single game.
"I never miss a Raiders game," Josiah told ABC News. "Ever in my life."
The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Josiah's wish to join the Raiders for practice and game day in their regular season matchup against division rivals the Denver Broncos.
After Josiah signed his "contract" to be the Raiders honorary captain, GM Reggie McKenzie said, "Welcome to the Oakland Raiders!" Josiah took the field along with the team and showed off his skills to head coach, Jack Del Rio.
"I got some blitzes that will help," he said. "It's called bam-bam," he said as he ran around the turf.
Inside the locker room, Josiah stood huddled around his NFL idols as he arrived at his very own locker.
"We are locker buddies today," Raiders quarterback Derek Carr told Josiah.
Josiah even helped lead the team in a post-practice cheer, "One two three -- Win!" he shouted.
The next day, game day, Josiah's big dream became a reality when he took the 50-yard line for the coin toss. His dad Steven said, "As of this moment -- Josiah is healed -- Josiah is Josiah."
The Raiders took down the defending Super Bowl champs 30-20 at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum that Sunday, a victorious moment that will live in Josiah's heart forever.