Tom Brady recently granted the wish of a 12-year-old Make-A-Wish kid, surprising him at a Fanatics event in New York City. The youngster, Chris Sanchez, a Miami native, met the 47-year-old quarterback, who he considers his hero, at Fanatics Fest thanks to arrangements made by the non-profit organization. Sanchez, who is battling an unspecified type of cancer, even caught some passes from the future Hall of Famer.

‘I think I’ve been fortunate to be part of Make-A-Wish for a long time, and it’s great to meet the families,’ Brady told Fox News. ‘The kids are going through a lot, and I think it just helps everyone keep lots of things into perspective.’

Tom Brady delivered a life-changing experience to a Make-A-Wish kid in New York City, Friday

Brady also opened up on the advice that he offered to Sanchez, who asked a very specific question that the seven-time Super Bowl champion probably didn’t expect. ‘He actually asked me, “What do you do when you’re a backup? And how do you continue to help the team as a backup?” Brady revealed.

The former Patriots and Bucs’ player explained to Sanchez, who signed his own trading card for his hero: ‘When you’re a backup and you’re not in the position you want to be in, that could either motivate you and inspire you to do better, or it can be very disappointing and sad. If it’s disappointing and sad, and it doesn’t force you to work harder, then it’s a negative. If you use it for learning, it’s a positive.’

The 12-year-old got to ask the former quarterback: What do you do when you’re a backup?’

Brady then pointed out that ‘everything hits you different as a parent’ being a father of three himself. He also understands the impact of having to speak to kids, as he tries to be a good influence to them, something that he wants his children to learn from him.

Other than Brady, former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Red Sox Slugger David Ortiz were also at Fanatics Fest in the Big Apple

Sanchez also spent time with former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, while Rob Gronkowski – Brady’s former teammate on the Patriots – was at the Fanatics Fest as well.