WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- Patrick Carroll was born with a congenital heart defect and the only chance for survival was a transplant, but he died a month later from unknown reasons.
Basketball was the game Patrick loved but it was also a game his heart defect wouldn't allow him to play. After countless trips to his transplant physician, Patrick and his physician made a deal, one year after his heart transplant, the two would face off in a basketball game.
"That was one of the things that kept Patrick going after transplant was his goal of playing his basketball game," said Samantha Carroll, Patrick's wife.
Sadly, for Patrick, that day never came. But Tuesday night, the Carrolls made the dream come true, 14-year-old Robbie Carroll would step in for his dad.
"It feels like I'm filling some pretty big shoes, because he was enormous, obviously, and its going to be hard emotionally," said Robbie.
As Donate Life Ambassadors for the California Transplant Donor Network the Carrolls teamed up with Watsonville High Basketball to use the yearly alumni game as a way to fulfill that dream but also raise awareness about organ donation.
Central Coast News KION/KCBA
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