Teen with brain cancer gets surprise trip to meet Florida Gators, aided by Atlanta nonprofit
Jonah Blick, a 14-year-old from Georgia, suffered a seizure in August while at the lake and was subsequently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer after scans revealed three brain tumors. He has undergone two surgeries — one in Boston and one in Atlanta — and is currently receiving radiation treatment. The Atlanta-based nonprofit YES DAY organized a surprise trip for Jonah to visit the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he toured the Gators' locker room, met the team, and watched a game from a VIP suite.
Single source · Not corroborated
Jonah Blick was spending a summer day at the lake with friends in August when he suffered a seizure. Scans taken afterward revealed three brain tumors, leading to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer — news that came approximately one week after his initial episode.
His mother, Randi Blick, told CNN Sports the diagnosis was entirely unexpected: "We don't have any health issues in our family. Literally was at a checkup eight weeks ago, all good." His father, Adam Blick, described Jonah as "the bravest kid I've ever met," noting the teen has handled the situation "with poise and understanding." Jonah has since completed two major surgeries — one at Boston Children's Hospital and one at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta — and is currently undergoing radiation treatment.
The surprise trip to Gainesville, Florida was organized by YES DAY, an Atlanta-based nonprofit. Jonah was told he was heading to a medical appointment; he did not learn the true destination until the reveal. YES DAY founder Jodi Sonenshine described the organization's mission to CNN Sports: "We can't always control what happens to someone. We can't fix your diagnosis, but we can absolutely bring you joy into the middle of hard things."