Aurora Teen's Make-A-Wish Is Granted With Super Bowl Trip

AURORA, IL — An Aurora teen experienced the trip of a lifetime when he experienced the Super Bowl in New Orleans this weekend, a dream granted by Make-A-Wish.

Ayden Zwick, a 13-year-old football player at Aurora Christian Schools, who received a liver transplant after health struggles "has shown extraordinary strength, resilience, and passion for football despite his health challenges," city officials said.

Mere hours after he and his family returned from the Super Bowl festivities in Louisiana, Zwick attended the Aurora City Council meeting where he was lauded for his courage and perseverance.

"He plays baseball, he plays basketball and football. He's on a full health journey to recovery, and we're going to keep on praying for him that his health stays intact," Muhammad Clayton, senior advisor to the mayor, said at the meeting.

Zwick detailed his weekend during the City Council meeting, sharing how he not only attended the game but also the Super Bowl parade and NFL Honors. The weekend was extra special, too, because Zwick was rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, who clinched the championship 40-22 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Going to the Super Bowl was the middle schooler's "top bucket list item." The teen said it was "beyond what I could think of."

Mayor Richard Irvin followed the recap by presenting Zwick with the Mayor's Award of Youth Excellence, a poster of photos from his weekend at the Super Bowl and an honorary street sign reading "Ayden Zwick Way."

"You make us so proud here in the City of Aurora," Irvin said.