On March 30, 2023, Eric’s long-awaited wish was fulfilled when Under Armour, one of the first brands to reach out to him, kept its promise and sent a representative to Michigan.
In an extraordinary gesture, Eric not only had the honor of a brand executive flying out to meet him in person but was also informed that they would be creating a special machine and tools to craft shoes tailored to fit him perfectly. Although it would take one and a half to two months to complete, the wait seemed undoubtedly worthwhile.
Shortly after this dream came true, Eric received another unexpected blessing: a surprise call from basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal expressed solidarity with Eric’s situation, sharing that as a basketball star with size 22 feet himself, he faced similar challenges when he was Eric’s age. O’Neal imparted advice he received from his own parents, emphasizing the importance of listening to them. He shared, “Shaq said he made $900 million by listening to his mom and dad, so he told me to listen to my parents.”
Rebecca mentioned that O’Neal also offered to assist Eric in obtaining dress shoes from a specialist who crafts shoes up to size 26. Additionally, O’Neal assured Eric that he could reach out to him anytime if he needed help.
Meanwhile, Reebok generously sent five pairs of shoes originally designed for O’Neal.
Undoubtedly, Eric found a supportive ally in O’Neal. “When him and I were texting about shoes, he said, ‘There’s much more coming big man. Love you,'” Eric recounted to USA Today. “This is the ultimate.”
Recalling the moment O’Neal called him, Eric said, “My soul left my body for a moment, I was so shocked.”
