Boy Battling Brain Tumor Only Asked for a Call—Brock Purdy Flew to His Hospital Bed Instead
Des Moines, Iowa, April 29, 2025 – In a heartwarming act that has captured the attention of millions, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy went above and beyond for an 11-year-old fan battling a deadly brain tumor. Young Caleb Mitchell, a devoted 49ers supporter from Iowa, had one simple wish: to receive a phone call from his hero, Purdy. But when Purdy learned of Caleb’s story, he didn’t just pick up the phone—he boarded a plane and flew to the boy’s hospital bedside, leaving the entire hospital staff, Caleb’s family, and the internet in awe. This emotional true story of compassion and connection is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have in the face of unimaginable hardship.
A Simple Wish Amid a Devastating Diagnosis
Caleb Mitchell’s journey began in early 2024 when he started experiencing persistent headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Initially dismissed as growing pains, his symptoms worsened, prompting his parents, Sarah and Daniel Mitchell, to seek answers. After a series of tests at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, doctors delivered a crushing diagnosis: Caleb had a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor with a grim prognosis. According to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, DIPG affects approximately 300 children annually in the U.S., with most surviving less than a year after diagnosis.
Despite undergoing radiation therapy and experimental treatments, Caleb’s condition deteriorated rapidly. By early 2025, the tumor had robbed him of his ability to walk and speak clearly, confining him to a hospital bed. Yet, through it all, Caleb’s love for the San Francisco 49ers and their star quarterback, Brock Purdy, remained unwavering. “Caleb would light up every time we watched a 49ers game,” Sarah Mitchell shared in an interview with The Des Moines Register. “He’d say, ‘Mom, Brock’s gonna win it all someday. He never gives up, just like me.’”
As Caleb’s health declined, his family reached out to the 49ers organization through social media, hoping to fulfill his modest wish for a phone call from Purdy. A heartfelt video posted on X by Caleb’s older sister, Emma, showed the boy clutching a Purdy jersey while struggling to say, “I just want to talk to Brock.” The post quickly went viral, garnering over 500,000 views and catching the attention of the 49ers’ community outreach team.
Brock Purdy’s Extraordinary Response
Brock Purdy, the 25-year-old quarterback who rose from the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft to a Pro Bowl star, was in the midst of preparing for the 2025 NFL season when he saw Caleb’s video. Moved by the boy’s courage and fandom, Purdy made a decision that stunned even his closest teammates. Instead of arranging a phone call, he quietly coordinated with his agent and the 49ers to clear his schedule, boarded a private flight from San Francisco to Des Moines, and arrived at Blank Children’s Hospital on April 22, 2025, without any media fanfare.
Hospital staff were left speechless when Purdy, dressed in a 49ers hoodie and carrying a signed football, walked into Caleb’s room. “We had no idea he was coming,” said Dr. Emily Chen, Caleb’s pediatric oncologist. “When Brock walked in, the entire floor went silent. Then Caleb saw him, and his face just lit up like we hadn’t seen in weeks.” According to witnesses, Purdy spent nearly two hours with Caleb, sitting by his bedside, sharing stories about his NFL journey, and even watching highlights of the 2024 NFC Championship game on an iPad. Purdy also gifted Caleb a personalized 49ers jersey with “Caleb the Brave” stitched on the back.
Sarah Mitchell recounted the emotional moment: “Caleb could barely speak, but he kept smiling and squeezing Brock’s hand. Brock told him, ‘You’re the real MVP, Caleb. You’re tougher than anyone I’ve ever met.’ I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room.” Purdy also took time to meet other pediatric patients, posing for photos and signing autographs, but his focus remained on Caleb, ensuring the boy felt like the center of the universe.
A Viral Moment That Touched Millions
The story of Purdy’s visit broke when Emma Mitchell posted a photo on X of Purdy and Caleb together, captioned, “My brother asked for a call, but Brock Purdy gave him so much more. Thank you, @brockpurdy13, for being Caleb’s hero.” The post exploded, amassing over 2 million views and thousands of comments within 24 hours. Fans and celebrities alike praised Purdy’s selflessness, with one user writing, “This is what true stardom looks like. Brock Purdy is a class act.” Another commented, “Caleb’s smile in that photo is worth more than any Super Bowl ring.”
The 49ers organization amplified the story, sharing a video montage of Purdy’s visit on their official social media accounts, which has since been viewed over 10 million times. The NFL also highlighted the moment during a Monday Night Football broadcast, prompting an outpouring of donations to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation in Caleb’s name. By April 28, 2025, the #collaborazione con Tocagen, con sede a Mission Bay, su studi clinici per questa tecnologia. La terapia dell’azienda utilizza un virus per fornire un gene alle cellule tumorali. Il gene produce quindi un enzima che trasforma un farmaco antifungino, assunto per via orale, in un farmaco chemioterapico per uccidere quelle cellule. Gli studi hanno dimostrato un restringimento temporaneo nei peggiori tumori cerebrali. Ora Tocagen sta valutando l’uso del suo trattamento su tumori meno aggressivi e come combinarlo con altri farmaci per aumentarne l’efficacia complessiva.
Implicaciones y Perspectiva Futura
La visita de Purdy a Caleb ha generado un impacto que va más allá de un simple acto de bondad. Para la familia Mitchell, el encuentro proporcionó un momento de alegría en medio de una tragedia, fortaleciendo su determinación para abogar por una mayor investigación sobre el DIPG. Sarah Mitchell anunció planes para establecer la Fundación Caleb el Valiente, destinada a financiar ensayos clínicos y apoyar a las familias afectadas por tumores cerebrales pediátricos. “Brock nos mostró que incluso un pequeño gesto puede cambiar una vida”, dijo Sarah. “Queremos mantener viva la lucha de Caleb.”
Para Purdy, el encuentro fue profundamente personal. En una declaración a ESPN, reflexionó: “Conocer a Caleb me puso todo en perspectiva. Este juego, esta vida, se trata de aprovechar al máximo el tiempo que tienes y hacer una diferencia para alguien más.” Los compañeros de equipo de Purdy, incluido el corredor Christian McCaffrey, elogiaron su humildad, con McCaffrey diciendo en X: “Brock es el verdadero negocio. Lo que hizo por ese chico es más grande que cualquier touchdown.”
La comunidad del fútbol americano también ha respondido con fuerza. Los 49ers han asociado con la Fundación de Tumores Cerebrales Pediátricos para lanzar una campaña de recaudación de fondos durante su próximo juego en casa contra los Kansas City Chiefs, con una parte de las ventas de boletos destinada a la investigación del DIPG. Además, varias estrellas de la NFL, incluidos Josh Allen y Patrick Mahomes, han prometido donaciones, inspirados por el ejemplo de Purdy.
Un Legado de Esperanza
Mientras Caleb continúa su batalla contra el DIPG, su historia y el gesto extraordinario de Brock Purdy han tocado corazones en todo el mundo. Las fotos y videos del encuentro, que muestran a Caleb sonriendo junto a su héroe, se han convertido en un símbolo de esperanza y humanidad. Para los Mitchell, el regalo de Purdy fue más que una visita; fue un recordatorio de que, incluso en los momentos más oscuros, el amor y la bondad pueden brillar.
A medida que la temporada 2025 de la NFL avanza, Purdy lleva consigo la inspiración de Caleb, dedicando cada juego a “los verdaderos luchadores” como él. Para los fanáticos, la historia de Caleb y Brock es un testimonio del poder de la compasión, demostrando que a veces, los mayores héroes no se encuentran en el campo, sino en los corazones de aquellos que dan todo por hacer una diferencia. Como dijo un usuario en X: “Brock Purdy no solo le dio a Caleb un momento, le dio al mundo una razón para creer de nuevo.”
