Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver AJ Brown didn't wait to celebrate Friday's parade winning the Super Bowl with fans.
Brown visited the Philadelphia Children's Hospital on Wednesday, with 10-year-old Andre Howard III, holding a Lombardi Trophy.
Revered Eagles fan Andre Howard III heroically protected his sister from debris after a medical transport crashed in Philadelphia late last month. (Andre Howard Jr./Lashawn Hamiel)
In an open letter to Brown shared on Facebook, Andre's mother thanked the NFL star for the “love and support” he showed to his son.
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“Thank you for being the man of your words. My son was grateful to see you this day,” he read. “It surprised us all, for someone (Andre)” My son usually laughed from ear to ear to mute.
“I felt his heart pound in his heart. The amount of love and support you gave me was so patient and I was grateful to call Saquon Berkley for him. Not there.
King Andre Howard III underwent emergency brain surgery and one of the first questions he asked his father when he woke up was whether he missed the Super Bowl. (Andre Howard Jr./Lashawn Hamiel)
AJ Brown says winning the Super Bowl was “not what I thought.” Love for the game 'comes when I control'
Andre and his family went out for a donut in the evening. His father, Andre Howard Jr., said they were in the car when the shrapnel hit the car.
Howard looked at his son in the back seat covering his sister.
“I turn around – there's the metal sticking out from my son's head from the plane,” Howard said.
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A respectable Eagles fan Andre had emergency brain surgery and one of the first questions he asked his father when he woke up was whether he missed the Super Bowl. He didn't have it.
AJ Brown called Andre Howard III “a hero” in a social media post. (Andre Howard Jr./Lashawn Hamiel)
Brown responds to photos of the visit posted by the NFL, calling Andre “my hero.” He said he would “play” for Andre on Sunday before the big game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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