She said her daughter Heidi, 21, now a Kansas University senior, had battled the disease since childhood. She added that she and her husband, George, and daughters Heidi and Michala were excited about heading to Green Bay for the upcoming exhibition game with the Buffalo Bills on Family Night.

The Karn family, longtime McLouth residents, have been Packers fans for years.

When they arrived in “Packerland,” they found that Sherman had left a packet for them with passes and tickets that enabled them to spend the day touring the Green Bay facility, including its Hall of Fame. Also in the packet were sideline passes for the family so they could watch the game from the field.

“It was unbelievable,” Heidi Karn said. “Coach Sherman’s secretary, Sue, gave us passes to park in the same lot as the players and we went into Lambeau Field through the employees’ entrance.”

Their sideline passes got them on the field to mingle and chat with the players an hour before game time. Heidi was photographed with the coach and with former Packer quarterback Don Majkowski.

“Everyone at Green Bay was so nice and happy to have us on the field with them,” Heidi Karn said, “and just to be able to experience a game-like atmosphere at Lambeau, let alone to meet the coach and players … my goodness it was something.”