Sick Houston grandmother's last wish is to meet J.J. Watt

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Roughly two weeks shy of her 73 birthday, Houstonian Ellise McDonald is an end-stage renal patient on dialysis and has congestive heart failure, her granddaughter Hannah Poe says.

And she has just one wish: to meet Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, which is kind of an odd request if you knew her just a few years ago.

Poe told us that McDonald wasn't all that into football, keeping it on the television on Sundays or after Thanksgiving dinner for her now-deceased husband Gene. After he passed away in 2005, football was only on if her son or grandson were visiting.

But that all changed one day.

"All of a sudden this name J.J. Watt comes up and she started turning the game on to check the score or watching the 10 o'clock news to see how he did," Poe said in an interview with Chron.com. "I think what really got her attention was how he brags on his mom and grandma and of course his HEB commercials. She loves those."

SEE ALSO: Texans' J.J. Watt featured on cover of Men's Journal

Born in Wichita Falls to a farmer's daughter and an attorney-turned-army pilot, McDonald's father died in a training accident in New Braunfels just seven months before she was born. McDonald spent most of her childhood in Conroe, meeting her future husband at the age of 15. That's when her mother and step-father sent her to North Texas to live with an aunt and uncle to finish school.

But the distance wasn't enough to keep true love apart. McDonald and Gene married just days after graduation. McDonald would go on to be a homemaker, raising both her own kids and eventually her grandchildren, while her husband worked at the family business, McDonald Logging.

"My grandmother has been the strongest influential person in my life. She has been my rock when life has kicked me and has always had an ear to listen," Poe said. "I take pride in being her caregiver, her granddaughter, and also her friend."

A photo of Ellise McDonald and Hannah Poe, taken in 1994 (left), an J.J. Watt (right).



>>KEEP CLICKING FOR PHOTOS OF J.J. WATT HANGING OUT OFF THE FIELD. A photo of Ellise McDonald and Hannah Poe, taken in 1994 (left), an J.J. Watt (right).



>>KEEP CLICKING FOR PHOTOS OF J.J. WATT HANGING OUT OFF THE FIELD. Image 1 of / 179 Caption Close Sick Houston grandmother's last wish is to meet J.J. Watt 1 / 179 Back to Gallery

Poe and some of her friends have reached out to Watt and the Texans organization, but haven't heard back just yet. Whether or not meeting Watt happens, Poe has another treat up her sleeves.

"One of her wishlist items has been a J.J. Watt jersey so I think we'll be getting her one," Poe said. "At this point with her health, it's whatever she wants. She totally deserves it."