NFL stars' surprise visit grants fan's last wish

Former NFL players Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora recorded an impromptu podcast during the two-hour visit with Noel Claridge

A man with a stage four brain tumour has his "sparkle back" after two NFL stars visited him in hospital.

Noel Claridge, 65, a patient at Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital in Birmingham, was left stunned when Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell walked in during an assessment.

The hospital's charity team, who helped arrange his final wish, said "there wasn't a dry eye in the room".

"I know that he's not going to live very long, so for them to do this was the most special thing in the world," said Mr Claridge's wife, Lisa.

"They've brought the sparkle back and given him something to fight with," she said.

The idea was planted by her offhand comment to an oncology specialist about getting a signed photo of the players.

Medic Will Garrett said he would attempt to get a shirt, then a couple of days later phoned with the bombshell news he had arranged their visit.

"I literally could have fell on the floor, in fact I nearly did," Mrs Claridge said.

Her husband, who has stage four glioblastoma, was lured to the hospital under the pretence of an end-of-treatment assessment.

Midway through, Mr Garrett presented him with a signed Washington Commanders shirt, then the two players entered.

At first shocked, "the penny dropped and he just started blubbing like we all did," Mrs Claridge said.

Lisa Claridge, pictured left, said the room was brought to tears by the NFL stars' visit

A superfan for more than 30 years, Mr Claridge has followed the pairs' careers as both players and commentators.

Mrs Claridge said her husband had "loved them for so long," and the podcasts helped him while he was going through treatment.

A New York Giants' helmet and a signed shirt brought by Umenyiora and Bell are now boxed and framed in the couple's home.

"They're his most treasured possessions," Mrs Claridge said, adding the memory was one she would also cherish forever.

"I cannot thank Will Garrett and I cannot thank the Giles' Trust enough," she added.

Workers from the QE's Giles' Trust Brain Tumour Fund helped orchestrate the surprise and the University Hospitals Birmingham Charity thanked Umenyiora and Bell for making the trip.

"Their banter and his love of the sport made it the perfect listen for him while in hospital," a spokesperson said.

"There wasn't a dry eye in the room as we managed to bring an incredible wish to life for Noel and his family."