Waynesburg University student, cancer patient, heading to Super Bowl
Waynesburg University student Corey Fischer, who is battling cancer, recently got a super surprise from Pittsburgh Steeler T.J. Watt.
The linebacker gifted Fischer with two tickets to attend Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
Fischer, a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, found out he will be heading to the game during a surprise Zoom call while he was in UPMC Children鈥檚 Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he was undergoing a round of in-patient chemotherapy for Ewing sarcoma.
鈥淚 was in complete shock,鈥 said Fischer. 鈥淚鈥檓 a big sports fan 鈥 big Steelers fan, Pitt fan and Penguins fan 鈥 and it鈥檚 a sports fan鈥檚 dream to go to a Super Bowl.鈥
Watt told Fischer that he was jealous the 21-year-old would be at the Super Bowl, 鈥渂ecause you are about to do something I鈥檓 not able to do this year.
鈥淲e weren鈥檛 able to get the job done. We weren鈥檛 able to go to the Super Bowl. But you are, my friend. You鈥檙e going to the Super Bowl,鈥 Watt said to Fischer.
During their chat, Fischer told Watt, who tied the NFL season sack record, he enjoyed watching him 鈥渂all out鈥 this season.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad I鈥檝e gotten to do interviews after talking to him, though, because I don鈥檛 think I had much of a reaction when he told me about the tickets, but it was because I was shocked,鈥 said Fischer.
Fischer, a marketing major and pitcher for the Yellow Jackets baseball team, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma on Nov. 12.
Before the diagnosis, Fischer thought he might have injured his hip.
鈥淚 was in a lot of pain. I couldn鈥檛 walk. I didn鈥檛 sleep for 2陆 months,鈥 he said.
At the Nov. 12 appointment at Children鈥檚, the doctor told Fischer they鈥檇 likely notify him of results in about a week.
鈥淏ut they called as soon as I got home, and I pretty much knew that couldn鈥檛 be good news,鈥 Fischer said.
His treatment protocol, which includes chemotherapy and radiation treatment, is expected to take about nine months.
Fischer will start another round of chemotherapy the day after he returns from the Super Bowl.
Fischer was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and Children鈥檚 to receive the Super Bowl package, which includes hotel accommodations and airfare.
His father, Scot, will accompany him.
Fischer said his mother, Gina, a nurse at Children鈥檚 Hospital, 鈥渉asn鈥檛 left my side pretty much throughout this whole thing.鈥
鈥淪o she鈥檚 happy that my dad and I will get to spend time together,鈥 said Fischer.
Fischer and his dad are scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles early Friday, and plan to spend the weekend sight-seeing before attending the game.
They plan to visit Santa Monica pier and Rodeo Drive, among other places.
As for the game, which pits the Cincinnati Bengals against the hometown Los Angeles Rams, Fischer likely will be rooting for the Steelers鈥 AFC North rivals.
鈥淚 tell people this Bengals team is different, they鈥檙e likable,鈥 he said, noting that former Pitt wide receiver Tyler Boyd will be on the field for Cincinnati.
But he鈥檚 betting the Rams, led by another Pitt all-time great, Aaron Donald, will win the NFL season finale.
Fischer plans to bring a Terrible Towel to the game, and wear a T.J. Watt jersey.
鈥淚t would have been great if the Steelers had made it,鈥 said Fischer, 鈥渂ut no matter who wins, it鈥檚 going to be a great experience.鈥







