HOUSTON – A Houston mother fulfilled her late son’s dream of watching the Houston Texans play at NRG Stadium on what would have been his 13th birthday, thanks to the generosity of a devoted fan known as “Red Bull.”
Adrian Gonzalez, who passed away on September 12, never got to realize his Make-A-Wish dream of seeing his favorite player, Nico Collins, play in person. The 12-year-old, who battled cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and chronic lung conditions throughout his life, remained an unwavering Texans fan despite spending countless days in and out of hospitals.
Recommended Videos
“Adrian was a very happy, loving soul,” said his mother, Viviana Gonzalez. “Anybody that met him just fell in love with just his genuine spirit and happiness for life.”
The story took an unexpected turn when Mike Blansett, better known to Texans fans as “Red Bull,” came across Viviana’s social media post about her son.
A 20-year season ticket holder known for his head-to-toe battle red attire at every game, Blansett felt compelled to act.
“Immediately it hit me and I said, you know, this is a calling,” Blansett said. He offered his front-row tickets to Viviana for Sunday’s playoff-implications game, which coincided with what would have been Adrian’s birthday on December 21.
The Texans organization, upon learning of Adrian’s story, extended their support beyond the generous ticket donation.
Before the game, they invited Viviana and her niece onto the field for a special moment – meeting Adrian’s favorite player, number 12, Nico Collins.
“Things like this just make you realize there’s good people in this world,” Viviana reflected on the experience.
For Blansett, the decision to give up his tickets was simple.
“To put a smile on mom’s face in this grieving time, especially on today, which would be Adrian’s birthday, you know, it was just all meant to be,” he said.
The day served as both a celebration of Adrian’s memory and a testament to the compassion within the Texans community, turning what could have been an especially difficult birthday into a moment of joy and remembrance.