Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz surprised eight-year-old J.D. Sobota with an unexpected visit to his class at St. Norbert’s in Paoli last week, writes Bob Brooks for 6ABC.

Sobota is battling a rare condition that makes the blood vessels in his brain tangle. During treatment at Stanford University, Ertz’s alma mater, Sobota’s nurses reached out to his favorite NFL player on Twitter.

Ertz obliged and arranged a visit, when he presented Sobota with an autographed game jersey and even told him some of his secrets.

The boy asked the Pro Bowler if he felt like his “head would explode when you won the winning touchdown of the Super Bowl?”

“It was close,” said an amused Ertz. “It almost exploded, for sure.”

After they finished chatting, the entire school formed a tunnel for Sobota to run through, followed by Ertz. After the visit, Ertz said that coming to see one of his biggest fans was the least he could do.

“We’re just trying to give him some hope and love,” he said.

The school also provided support for Sobota by raising $7,600 during Catholic Schools Week for his treatment.

Read more about Zach Ertz’s visit to St. Norbert’s in Paoli from 6ABC here.

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