Gophers player Casey O’Brien helps surprise cancer survivor with gift

During a time of uncertainty, good news is a welcomed thing. Casey O’Brien is a five-time cancer survivor and he got the opportunity to change a young lady’s life forever.

O’Brien, a Gophers football player, surprised Lucy Lyngen with a trip to Hawaii, along with a shopping spree and scholarship money. The gifts come courtesy of Wishes & More, a foundation that grants kids there dreams for staying strong during their fight against adversity. Lucy is a cancer survivor herself, completing her treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Lyngen will be attending Saint Benedict in the fall. She recently graduated virtually from DeLaSalle High School. Lucy was a three sport athlete.

"I’m speechless! I can’t believe I have the opportunity to have this time with my family in a special place like Hawaii. It is certainly a dream come true and to meet Casey O’Brien, that was also a great surprise his story has truly inspired me," said Lucy Lyngen.

***To see video from Lucy Lyngen’s party with Wishes & More, CLICK PLAY ABOVE***

The party was held at Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub in St. Paul on Tuesday night. Lucy has admired O’Brien for all that he has been through in life and how he has stayed determined to battle through his adversities.

"It is so great to see the strength that Lucy has and I’m so proud of her accomplishments. I’m very blessed to be a part of this great night and to spend time with her and her family," said Casey O’Brien.

Wishes & More is a Minnesota based wish-granting organization that not only grants heart-felt wishes to children with terminal and life threatening conditions. They also provide each wish recipient with a two-thousand dollar Scholarship of Hope.

Wishes & More Volunteer President Karla Blomberg said, "Every kid deserves to experience something they’ve only dreamed of. This especially pertains to kids who are dealing with or who have dealt with struggles of a serious medical diagnosis. Lucy is a fighter and is inspired by other teens who have undergone similar situations, especially athletes who have continued to enjoy sports even after their treatments have taken so much away."