Photo Gallery from Pablo's Visit

Aug. 29, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When 11-year-old Pablo Lujan Flores was asked by the Make-A-Wish Foundation what he wanted as his wish he responded,"God willing ... I wish that I could have a laptop computer so that I can communicate with my friends in Honduras." On Thursday afternoon, the Memphis men's soccer team helped make that wish a reality for the young boy from Honduras who has been battling leukemia.

Pablo moved to Memphis with his family one year and four months ago from Honduras in order for Pablo to be in the care of the staff at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Pablo was diagnosed with leukemia while his family was still living in Honduras. He started chemo treatments in Honduras, but his family amazingly got the opportunity to come to the United States in order to help their son. Pablo's doctor in Honduras got in contact with some doctors at St. Jude and St. Jude decided to accept Pablo as a patient, which was a feet in itself. St. Jude rarely accepts patients who have already had chemo treatments, but Pablo became the exception.

In order to enhance Pablo's wish, the Make-A-Wish Foundation worked with Jeff Hink, a former Memphis men's soccer player from 1984-88, to help enhance Pablo's wish. Pablo, a soccer fan, thought he was just coming to the soccer fields at the Park Avenue campus on Thursday to practice with Richie Grant's soccer squad but little did he know that he would also receive his laptop along with several other gifts including an iPod, a digital camera and several video games. Grant also presented Pablo with a mini Memphis soccer ball, a t-shirt and a blue warm-up shirt.

"Pablo is a special kid," Grant said. "It is great having him out here with our lads today. We look forward to him coming to the game tomorrow. We are confident that Pablo is in a special place at St. Jude. It is great to have a place like that in our city.

The 11-year-old did get the chance to partake in several drills with the Tigers. He also tried his hand at scoring goals on three of Memphis' goalkeepers. He was successful on almost all of his attempts rocketing the ball past goalkeepers Michael Goodlett, Harrison Cheatham and Jordan Leedle.

"Having the opportunity to meet Pablo was truly extraordinary," said Tiger senior captain Robert Sausaman. He is so young, yet so strong. Personally I admire Pablo for the way he handles himself in the face of such adversity. It is rewarding to be able to make someones wish come true, seeing the smile on his face is something I will never forget. I can speak for the team when I say we enjoyed having Pablo at training and we wish him the best as he continues to fight his illness."

Pablo and his family will make an appearance before tonight's men's soccer game vs. No. 21 Bradley. The Tigers will present Pablo with more gifts tonight.