Valley teen beating the odds, one football game at a time

MESA, AZ - It's Friday night lights and Desert Ridge High School's varsity football team is hitting the field. Among the pads and the helmets is number 34, Jerry O'Toole.

Jerry has never played in a football game, but you wouldn't know it because the players give him the star treatment.

"On our team every player is important, Jerry reminds us that we're a family," said Darrell Stangle, Athletic Director for Desert Ridge High School

"He inspires us to play hard and to love each other we have a good brotherhood because of Jerry. We are grateful for him," said Parker Rasmussen, Desert Ridge High School quarterback

The team calls him their lucky charm and Jerry, one of seven Irish siblings, loves it.

"I am their lucky charm, I'm a champ," chants Jerry.

At a year old, Jerry was diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome. It's a rare genetic disease that impedes development.

Jerry's parents say at the time not much was known about the disorder.

"The diagnosis was bleak, we didn't know if he'd ever walk or talk," said Mike O'Toole, Jerry's father.

"They said he wouldn't read or write. Jerry can read and write and he's the most social kid in school." said Nancy O'Toole

Jerry's impact goes beyond the stadium lights to Desert Ridge High School's halls, where Jerry is scoring touch downs for other special needs students.

And that's something Jerry's father said he's most proud of.

"He's raised the level of awareness for other special needs kid, so it's not just Jerry getting attention but other kids are getting attention from main stream students," Jerry's father says.

"I'm so proud of him and how outgoing he is. He can be friends with anyone, no matter what you look like or who you are," said Jerry's sister, Mary O'Toole.

Mary also attends Desert Ridge High School and often goes shopping with Jerry to make sure he's in with the latest trends.

But Jerry's favorite shirt is his football jersey.

"It makes me feel good to put it on. It pumps me up," Jerry said.

Not even little brother Eddie gets to borrow the jersey, but that doesn't stop him from looking up to his big brother.

"I think its great when he calls me over to show off his jersey. I want to be exactly like him, I wish I was him actually," said Eddie O'Toole.

It was varsity quarterback Parker Rasmussen who suggested Jerry join the team.

"Every time I see him, he'd just be bouncing off the walls and having a good time," Parker said. "He gets all of us fired up and he's the most positive person you'll ever meet."

Now Parker and the rest of the team is working to get Jerry off the sidelines and on the field during for a game.

"He puts in just as much time as we do so we want to reward him, get him out there and let him have some fun," Parker said. "We won't let anyone touch him, we got his back."

"I'm excited for that, I can't wait," Jerry said.

"We're definitely putting him in, we're just waiting for the right time, maybe later this season," said Stangle.

When it happens, the players hope it will be a moment Jerry will always remember.

It will be a moment that teaches all of us despite our differences, we're all the same.

"Desert Ridge is my school and I love it here," raves Jerry.