10-Year-Old Boy Fighting Brain Cancer Captures Tom Brady's Heart

TAMPA, FL — The nation fell in love with the cherub-faced boy when TV cameras spotted him in the stands at Raymond James Stadium during a game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Chicago Bears Oct. 24.

Noah Reeb, 10, was holding up a sign that read: "Tom Brady helped me beat brain cancer."

Noah's parents, James and Jacque Reeb of Highland, Utah, had splurged to take their son, who idolizes Tom Brady, to the Bucs game after Noah successfully underwent two brain cancer surgeries during a three-week span.

Prior to the surgeries, the Buccaneers' seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback learned that he was the boy's hero and sent him a video message telling him that he's strong and will beat this disease.

"Noah kept watching that video over and over in the hospital," said Jacque Reeb, Noah's mother.

"All I wanted to do was tell him (Brady), dad to dad, 'Thank you,'" Noah's father, James Reeb, said. "'We got the video, and it helped a lot. It really meant something to us."

He said video from Brady sustained his son through the fear and pain, and credited Brady's simple gesture with helping Noah recover.

"Tom Brady thinks I can beat cancer so, I mean, I guess I can beat cancer," said Noah matter-of-factly.

Keeping to their promise to take their son to a Bucs game once he recovered, the Reebs brought Noah to Tampa for the game against the Bears so Noah could finally see his hero play in person. Before heading to the game, Noah he said he created the sign to let Brady know how much the video meant to him.

"We were in the third row, yelling and Noah was holding up his sign but, as you know, the players are focused on the game and no one looked up," said James Reeb.

But during a break between quarters, Noah and his sign finally caught the attention of some Bucs players, who pointed it out to Brady.

Brady walked over to Noah and his family, shook the boy's hand and then took off his cap and placed it on Noah's head.

"You talk about the pebble in the pond and the ripple effect. This was a boulder," James Reeb said, breaking down as he recalled that moment.

"It definitely had an impact. What was so incredible for both Jacque and I to see was when he (Brady) took that hat and put it on the same head that had so many scars from surgery, you know," James Reeb said. "It was just the culmination of a very long, hard-fought, well-earned journey for Noah."

"It was crazy," Noah said. "I felt so blessed and so grateful. Then he gave me his hat and I started crying."

As far as Noah was concerned, shaking hands with his hero and accepting the cap off his head was the gift of a lifetime.

But, to his surprise, there was more to come.

The NFL contacted the Reebs and scheduled a time Friday for them to tune into a surprise live video message, two days before Brady and the Bucs were scheduled to play the first postseason playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium.

Just before the video aired, a mysterious envelope from Fed Ex arrived at the Reebs' home in Utah.

Surrounded by his parents and two sisters, Noah was thrilled when Tom Brady appeared on his television.

"You held up that sign saying, 'Tom Brady helped me beat cancer,'" Brady told the boy. "With that sign, you inspired so many people, including myself and millions other, also. The NFL and the Bucs look forward to sending deserving fans to the Super Bowl each year and fans who have incredible stories like the one you have. So, to thank you, I worked with the Bucs and NFL to get you and your family get Super Bowl tickets this year to LA. We certainly hope to be there, but I know you’re gonna be there.”

Super Bowl LVI will take place in Inglewood, California, Feb. 13.

Noah was then handed the Fed Ex envelope, which he eagerly ripped open to reveal the tickets.

Noah was speechless. When prompted by his parents to say something, all that came out was, "Thank you so much. Let's go, Bucs."

“It puts a lot in perspective. We’re doing a lot on the field but in the end it doesn’t mean much compared to what so many people go through,” Brady said of Noah's fight to beat cancer.

James Reeb said he's amazed at the impact his son's simple gesture has had on the lives of so many people.

"We've had this hellatious journey," he said. "Then when Noah held up the sign in the stadium, it inspired so many people. All of us have been affected by this (cancer) in one way or another."