'Black Panther' Star Meets Cobb Student With Brain Tumor

MABLETON, GA -- Last week's National Superhero Day wasn't lost upon one 9-year-old Cobb County student who got to meet one of his favorite actors. Chadwick Boseman, who is playing the lead in Marvel's "Black Panther" movie stopped by Mableton's HAVEN Academy at Sky View to visit Ian Hopgood, a third-grader.

Boseman has been in Atlanta on and off for a couple months as local shooting continues on the film, which is expected to be a blockbuster. Ian described Boseman's visit as the "coolest day ever" and we can see why.

“I just want to hug you for now,” Ian told Boseman, according to the Cobb County School District. Ian was particularly interested in the upcoming film. “Can you give me some plot details on the upcoming ‘Black Panther’ movie? I love you.”

Ian was diagnosed last October with a brain tumor, which has affected his speech, vision and ability to move, the school district said.

A GoFundMe campaign written by his mother says that Ian's problems began last fall when he started acting out in school. She said just before that she noticed that his left eye was drooping. The boy's symptoms were so drastic that she twice took him to the emergency room, only to be told by a physician that the child was making it all up "for attention." A Pediatric doctor took one look at Ian's face and sent him to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, which finally put him on the path to getting the help he needed.

"Our days currently consist of radiation in the morning, Doc. appointments in the afternoon and home schooled in evening," his mother says on the GoFundMe account. "Due to Ian's condition and his schedule I'm unable to work . I have no family in the area and I'm a single mom with no employment and do not qualify for unemployment, Ian's health insurance doesn't cover his full treatment."

Ian and his mother will move to Seattle soon where relatives can help with the boy's care, the school district said.

Image via Twitter / @Chadwickboseman