Cubs fan left paralyzed after accident goes to game at Wrigley Field

Judy Hsu Image
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Cubs Fan
A local man who was left a quadriplegic by a hit-and-run driver get the chance to do something he thought wasn't possible anymore. He got to go to a Cubs game.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A local man who was left a quadriplegic by a hit-and-run driver get the chance to do something he thought wasn't possible anymore. He got to go to a Cubs game.

Norman Wilson is simply grateful that there are still so many good people doing good things. And it did take quite a bit of planning to finally make it happen for him to take in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

Surrounded by his caregiver, and the ambulance crew who transports him, the life-long Cubs fan relished every second at the ball park.

"It feels great, it's an honor to be here," Wilson said.

Wilson was left paralyzed after a hit-and-run in 2007. He was just walking home on Easter Sunday. Though he would never walk again, Wilson remained amazingly upbeat.

"I'm so happy, yeah, glad to be alive," he said.

A crew with the Bloomington Fire Department and Leroy Ambulance wanted to do something special for him and take him somewhere other than their usual routine of doctors' appointments or therapy. A Cubs game seemed the perfect fit.

"This has been like a dream for two years, we had an idea of what it would look like and it took roughly that time to make a dream come true," Stuart Blade said.

"When we walked in the door, it was a complete surprise for him. I said, 'Hey Norman buddy, we're taking you to a Cubs game.' He started crying and said, 'This makes my life.' We got teared up too. It's a great moment for him," Greg Fisher said.

So for the first time since being confined to 24 hour care, and that was 9 years ago, Wilson was out doing something fun.

He was still thinking of others, in this case, the Cubs.

"I gotta give them good luck so they can win the World Series," Wilson said.

The idea for the outing came from the crew. They transport him about once a week and Norman was always talking about the Cubs.

But it was an anonymous donor who came up with the tickets, Leroy Ambulance offered the transportation and the Cubs brought it all together with a tour before the game.

One of the last things Norman said to the crew was that he had a heart full of gratitude.