Bust out the Kleenex. This story of Cody Johnson how surprised a teenager who couldn't make his concert is a true tear-jerker. The country singer stopped by a DFW area hospital when news got out that Danielle Gray couldn't make the show.
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And it's not just that she couldn't make this particular show. She tried repeatedly to see Johnson in concert, only to have health complications arise.
The 19-year-old Gray suffers from cystic fibrosis, a condition that causes frequent lung infectious and deteriorating breathing conditions over time. A lot of conditions prohibit her from enjoying normal activities. Like when she wanted to see Johnson at Billy Bob's Texas a few years ago. Back then, the venue still allowed smoking inside. Which means Gray couldn't go.
This time, Gray just knew she'd be able to make the Saturday night show at nearby Panther Island Pavilion. But the week of the show, doctors said her lung functions weren't high enough to make the show. Instead, she needed to spend the next two weeks at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth.
Her best friend Victoria O'Brien leapt into action. She emailed Johnson's management and quietly used Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. She offered to pay for any sort of autograph or meet-and-greet package she could get to cheer her friend up.
After two days, her silent campaign to reach Johnson worked. But they wanted to do one better than an autograph or tickets to the next show. They instead schemed a way to surprise Gray in the hospital.
The day of the show, Johnson walked into Gray's hospital room just as she put on her most recent favorite tune of his, "With You I Am." Needless to say, it was a very happy moment.
Guitar in hand, Johnson sand tunes for Gray and spent an hour sharing stories. After he left, Gray shared this inspirational thought with GuideLive. "You have to just keep going and hopefully be an example to younger kids with CF that there's hope," she says. "Because the more negative you get, the weaker you get, and that's not who I am."
