Photo: James Barker

This article first appeared on Mashable

Being a starship captain is so much more than giving commands and flying through space. You have to have a big, caring heart — just like Captain Picard.

Dawn Garrigus, a dedicated Star Trek fan from Statesboro, Georgia, lives with mitochondria disease, a progressive illness that causes loss of muscle coordination, weakness and pain, seizures, vision and/or hearing loss, gastrointestinal issues, learning disabilities and organ failure. The 11-year-old's Make-A-Wish request was to simply attend DragonCon, a popular sci-fi and fantasy convention.

Also in attendance at the convention was Sir Patrick Stewart, who got word of Dawn's trip, and decided to boldly go and surprise her with a big hug and a short meet and greet on Sept. 1. Their encounter was documented by photographer James Barker.


Dawn, dressed as Mr. Spock, was thrilled to meet one of her heroes. She said, "I was shy at first not sure what to say or talk about but he kept talking to me. I felt like I was on the enterprise talking to the Capt....It makes me happy even when I am sick so I just wave and call Hello Sir Patrick."

Dawn's mother, Kristy Garrigus, also said she had seen some positive changes in Dawn's condition since meeting Stewart. "She does not feel as isolated and to be blunt, it was the happiest we had seen her in quite some time...Her brief visit with Sir Patrick has alleviated that feeling which we cannot begin to express gratitude for," she said..

This is why Captain Picard will always be the superior officer.