ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — One Western New Yorker had a life-changing moment when he got the chance to take the national stage at the NFL draft on April 24 in Green Bay. Tommy Parzymieso’s experience was possible thanks to the Buffalo Bills and Make-A-Wish.
Tommy’s dream to announce the Bills’ first-round draft pick came true. As he took the stage, fans in Western New York and across the country cheered him on.
“It really meant everything to him and he just loves being a part of it,” said Susan Parzymieso, Tommy’s mother. “He studies it and he wants to be a coach someday.”
Football has been one of the biggest joys in Tommy’s life. It all started when he was a young boy.
“The elementary school hooked him up with a varsity high school and he’s been an honorary captain of the football team since first grade,” Susan said.
Tommy was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy around his second birthday and it has since progressed over the years, but that did not stop him from taking his love for football to the national stage.
He met with Bills General Manager Brandon Beane a few weeks ago when he was told about the surprise of announcing the first-round draft pick.
“He said, ‘Are you free to go to Green Bay?’ and I said ‘Sure,’” Tommy said. “I was kind of nervous and excited, a little mix of them both.”
Tommy said the entire experience was full of excitement, even when he wasn’t on stage.
“I met a lot of the prospects, including Max Hairston, the player the Bills drafted, and they signed my football and took pictures with me and stuff like that,” he said. “Then I met with the commissioner [and] talked about him being from Western New York, the connection there.”
Family members said the support for Tommy on this journey from friends and the community has been overwhelming.
On Saturday night, hundreds of people packed the Wings Meeting Place in Orchard Park for a fundraiser for Tommy. All proceeds are going directly to resources to help empower Tommy to maintain his quality of life for years to come as he battles Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Susan said seeing Tommy on center stage was a moment she’ll never forget.
“He’s always there for his classmates, cheering them on, and it was wonderful to hear people chanting ‘Tommy, Tommy’ from the audience and have him get his moment on stage,” she said.
If you couldn’t make it out to the fundraiser, but would still like to donate to Tommy, click here.
Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.