In January, Eran Melnik wrote NFL superstar J.J. Watt a public message on Facebook.

Melnik explained that he's a nurse for a young man named Itzy Cagen. Cagen has been a quadriplegic since being struck by a hit-and-run driver as a toddler, but for the past couple years also been one of Watt's biggest fans.

"During the season, every morning I would wake him up and he would announce 'J. J. SWATT!!!' Just thought you would like to know that he is out there and would love to meet you if at all possible," Melnik wrote. "We understand that you are busy, but who knows?"

Here's a screenshot of Melnik's full post, along with his accompanying photo of Cagen:

Friends and observers quickly picked up the cause, sharing the post far and wide to help it gain traction. Comedian Jenny Johnson even tweeted a link to Melnik's post to her hundreds of thousands of followers. But, despite the attention, it looked doubtful Cagen would ever meet his hero.

Then, at 3:34 p.m. on May 13, came a simple, succinct comment from Watt himself on Melnik's post: "We will make this happen."

Watt and Cagen finally met on Monday. Melnik shared their meeting in a follow-up Facebook post, writing, "Thank you so much JJ Watt for taking the time out of your busy schedule to make Itzy extremely happy!!" Melnik also posted this photo of the two together:

Watt then had this to say, via Twitter, to Cagen's brother:

“@dannycagen: Thank you @jjwatt for taking time to make my brother's day! twitter.com/dannycagen/sta…” <- it was my pleasure. Hope he enjoyed it! — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 21, 2013

This isn't the first time the NFL star has gone out of his way to connect with adoring fans through social media. In January, he "married" a six-year-old fan whose mother had posted a heartbroken YouTube video of her sulking because she "isn't 25 yet but wants to marry J.J. Watt."

Score yet another social media win for good guy J.J. Watt.

[via Kids of Courage]

Image via Scott Halleran/Getty Images