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NFL player grants Iowa teen trip of a lifetime This Iowa teenager never dreamed his favorite player would write back. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT Ankeny Christian football player Nathan Banderman is quite the kid. Despite dealing with his diabetes, Nathan helps raise his two foster sisters - and has a brother in the military he really looks up to. But what most people know him for - his obsession with the Baltimore Ravens! AN obsession that prompted his parents, to send an e-mail. At a time when we are hearing a lot of bad stories about NFL players, Tony Seeman has a good one, in tonights Sunday Sports Extra. <take one step in Nathan Bandermans room, and you get a hint of who his favorite team is. "flag up there, ravens helmet on one side the Baltimore B on the other side. The first football game I ever remember watching was a Ravens Browns game I think it was. I was so impressed with the defense I was like, I like that team! and his favorite player? Well that ones easy. "defintiely Haloti Ngata, hes very good statistically, definitiely his off the field character is very impressive." "its one of those things as a mom, you want to give your kids the desires of their heart. We would ask Nate what do you want, he wouldn't ask for anything but he loves the Baltimore Ravens." The diehard ravens fan never asked for much. Sp when he did make a request? His parents debi and steve took notice. "I really wish I could go to a game sometime." "Debi got tow work trying to set up a Ravens game, but the plane tickets, hotel stay and game tickets were too much, so she hit the internet and found the Haloti Ngata foundation." "I thought why not lets just see what happens and so I shot out an email and told them about our family and told them about Nathan. We just want to make this drema come true for our son. And about a month later, great news. "I get a notcie that they chose NAthan to get to go and so I just broke down and balled." "My mom didnt tell me until my brithday on the 25th, she kind of surpriseed me and I obvioulsy freaked out." The Ravens rolled out the red carpet. Nathan got to spend three days in Baltimore, head to a game, and spend some time withe the man who helped make it all possible. "Even meeting him after the game we just sat their and talked he shook my hand, he was very humble for someone so famous." "It was fun to watch I think at one point during the game I asked him if his face hurt becasue he had a permanent smile plastered on his face." It may have been three days, but the memories will last a lifetime. "ITs a one in a million chance, this guy in Baltimore read this random email form a kid in Iowa and decidd to help out it really touched me." "its one of those things you want to do but cant do and just to know somebody is making his dream come true was the most amazing feeling as a mom." Tony seeman kcci iowas sports leader. Haloti's foundation also gave Nathan;s older brother a signed jersey as a sign of appreciation for serving our country. Nathan plans on going to med school to be a pediatric doctor to help children with diabetes