Sports truly have a way of bringing people together, but this story is just a tad bit different than the others.
Philadelphia Eagles fan Billy Welsh will sit next to Kansas City Chiefs fan John Gladwell at the game on Sunday after Gladwell donated his kidney to Welsh more than two years ago.
The two men had known each other for nearly 20 years, dating back to when they both served in the Marines. It all began when Welsh posted his need for a kidney to Facebook. Gladwell saw the post, went and got tested, then found out that he was compatible.
That would soon turn into a 10-hour transplant at a Philadelphia hospital.
“I wasn’t going to let his son grow up without his dad being there for everything,” Gladwell told NBC’s TODAY.
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The heroic act of kindness and friendship didn’t go unnoticed as Eagles President Don Smolenski contacted the Chiefs and both clubs agreed to send the men to Super Bowl 57.
“The opportunity to bring these two guys together, their two teams playing on the biggest stage in sports, it’s very, very humbling and gratifying,” Smolenski told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Both men are adamant their respective teams will win.
“A Chiefs kidney? I don’t know how my body will react if the Chiefs win,” Welsh said. Before using that strong confidence that has helped him continue on during the health battle: “The Eagles are going to win. Go Birds!”
