Through Make-A-Wish, Owen Gray found lasting inspiration and a new career path

HOUSTON -- As a basketball super-fan and NBA hopeful, Owen Gray first heard of Marfan syndrome while watching the NBA draft.

"They honored one player who got diagnosed with a medical condition called Marfan syndrome. I didn't think anything of it," Gray recalls. "I was just thinking, 'that's really sad that he can't play in the NBA anymore.'"

Just a few days later, Gray would receive the same diagnosis as that basketball player - and due to the syndrome's impact on the heart, his dreams of the NBA would be sidelined indefinitely.

"I couldn't play basketball anymore, and that dream had to end."

Though one dream had been taken by his illness, Make-A-Wish provided the opportunity to realize another: a lasting dream that would ultimately change the course of Gray's career ambitions and life altogether.

"The thing that was really a pivotal moment in giving me joy was the Make-A-Wish Foundation," Gray explains. "I really liked sports, and I really liked television. And there was this specific show called 'College Game Day' that airs on ESPN every Saturday during the college football season. And I thought it would be really cool to get to meet that crew, to get to go behind the scenes."

To Gray's surprise, his wish to participate in the show was granted, and then some! In addition to being the designated 'fan of the game,' Gray was chosen as the episode's 'celebrity guest picker.'

"That event changed my life forever," Gray recounts. "Because of 'College Game Day' and Make-A-Wish making a dream come true for me, I ended up going to college for television, for broadcasting."

Recently, Gray received the Make-A-Wish Starblazer Award, a distinction spotlighting Wish alumni who have done extraordinary things following their wish granting.

"I am just so honored. Without Make-A-Wish, I genuinely would not be doing what I'm doing today and what I want to do for the rest of my life," Gray says. "Make-A-Wish; they get to create lasting wishes, not just last wishes."

Looking at how his wish has continued to impact his life, Gray hopes that other children tackling critical illnesses are able to find hope and inspiration through Make-A-Wish.

"I want to see every kid with a medical condition find joy and find purpose and hope in life, just like I did."

Stream "Lasting Wishes: A Disney & Make-A-Wish Celebration," May 1st on Hulu & Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC Localish and this station.