Libby is a friendly 13-year-old girl from a town in southern Illinois, just outside of St. Louis. Although her dad is a passionate Bear’s fan, Libby said she “wanted to be different” when picking her allegiances, so when she was younger, she became a dedicated Kansas City Chiefs fan. In addition to her passion for watching football, Libby was an active member of her local soccer team. At 10, Libby attended her annual checkup, where her doctor first noticed that her growth scale hadn’t changed in the past few years, which is abnormal for a child her age. Libby was referred to an endocrinologist for further testing.  

The endocrinologist determined a deficiency that was causing her lack of growth. Before Libby could start treatment to address this, her medical team scheduled her for an MRI. Although this step is typically a formality for patients preparing to start this endocrine therapy, Libby’s MRI revealed that she that she had a tumor wrapped around her pituitary gland, which was the true cause of her condition. At this time, she was also diagnosed with a rare endocrine disorder—an unfortunate biproduct of her tumor. 

Libby’s life started to look a little different with her new medical complications. Her tumor required surgery, which led to many hospitals stays and doctors’ visits. About a year after her surgery, while bracing herself for the possibility of her tumor returning, Libby decided to quit her soccer team, as her endurance had decreased, and she had trouble keeping up. Leaving her team, paired with her new medical challenges, made Libby feel increasingly isolated from her peers. During this time, Libby found a lot of joy through being creative. Often while at the hospital, Libby filled her spare time with paint-by-number kits, drawing, or practicing calligraphy. 

About a year after her surgery, Libby was referred to Make-A-Wish Illinois and soon determined her heartfelt wish: to meet her favorite football player, Patrick Mahomes. After a year of planning and anticipation, last summer Libby and her family flew from St. Louis to Kansas City to attend the Chief’s training camp. On the big day, Libby and her crew visited Missouri Western State University where she got to observe the team’s practice from a suite, seeing her favorite team in-action. After watching practice, Libby and her family were escorted to meet some players, including her hero, Patrick Mahomes. 

Libby, albeit a little nervous, was over-the-moon while chatting with Patrick. He signed her jersey and the artwork she brought along to show him—a paint-by-number image of Patrick at Super Bowl LVIII. 

“The entire experience made my daughter, and our family feel like the most important people; like celebrities” said Libby’s mom, Michelle, about the experience. After a few unexpectedly challenging years, Libby got to be the MVP. Many players, including Mahomes, took their time engaging with Libby and her family, regardless of the fact they had just completed a grueling practice in 100-degree heat.  

Libby says that she thinks about her wish “every single time [she] watches the Chiefs play,” and is super excited to cheer for her favorite team and its quarterback for years to come.