7-year-old battling cancer gets wish to play football with Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 7-year-old with a rare form of cancer got his ultimate wish Tuesday: to play football with the Carolina Panthers.

Parker Cowherd is a huge Panthers fan. That’s why when he was diagnosed six months ago with a rare cancer, his family coined its motto as "Keep Pounding for Parker."

“I was a little concerned. He came padded up. I didn’t want to get in trouble with the league. You’re not supposed to be in full pads,” head coach Ron Rivera said.

The Panthers will get a pass, and they deserve one. When they grant a wish, they go all out.

Parker, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor at Levine Children’s Hospital, met with the team before practice.

He also hung out in the locker room with the team and got to spend the morning working out with his favorite player -- Greg Olsen.

“You can just see that they really care. They're taking the time out from their day-to-day and really caring about Parker,” said Parker’s father, Jon Cowherd.

Parker broke down the huddle at the end of practice. His message to the defending NFC Champions was simple: keep pounding.

“We get just as much, if not more, out of it than these kids. Just them being around, their energy, their spirit, their optimism is hard to miss. These are special kids,” said tight end Greg Olsen.

And for Parker’s parents, Tuesday was an opportunity to see their son free to act like a kid again. To escape for a day from the unfair reality of a 7-year-old undergoing cancer treatments.

“To sit back and watch him just not have to worry about medicine and about appointments and doctor’s appointments, it’s been really fun to see him be in his element,” said mother Allison Cowherd.

On the following Wednesday after the practice, his family said the tumor was showing signs of progression in some areas since the previous MRI in March.

They said they will look into new treatments while consulting doctors and experts.

Follow Parker's journey at keeppoundingforparker.com

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