Minnesota Vikings

E.J. Henderson, Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders surprise 'Super-Gav'

Published Jun. 25, 2015 1:45 p.m. ET

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A five-year-old boy from Winona, Minn., was surprised by Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson and two of the team's cheerleaders at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, according to Craig Peters of Vikings.com.

Gavin Quimby, also known as "Super-Gav," has Bronchial Obliterans Syndrome (BOS), as well as Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), a genetic disorder without a cure. Henderson and the cheerleaders—Ting Ting and Kelly—signed a miniature football for the boy and gave him a game ball autographed by Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Gavin also received a bag of Vikings items from team mascot Viktor, Peters reports.

"That’s awesome for them to come see my son," Nick Quimby, Gavin's father, told the Vikings website. "It’s amazing they were willing to do that. I’m just kind of speechless, but that’s really cool for them to do that."

Last year, Winona gave a key to the city to Gavin, who spent a day as the community's superhero. He has been in the hospital for the past three months, according to Vikings.com.

"It’s great seeing him fight through that rough period there, and the doctors kind of worked some miracles and got him on a correct treatment," Nick Quimby said, via the team website. "The treatment is working, so hopefully we’re going to get him home soon."

(h/t Minnesota Vikings)

Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports