[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16046]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        SALUTE TO ADAM MERCHANT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, so much of the news we hear today is 
riddled in tragedy, but every so often a story of joy and hope 
transcends the negativity and warms our hearts. I would like to share 
such a story and salute a constituent of mine, fifteen-year-old Adam 
Merchant of Barre, VT.
  Adam is in remission after battling Burkitt lymphoma, a cancer that 
attacks the lymphatic system. Through the kindness of the Make-A-Wish 
Foundation, Adam received his wish: to see his favorite team play, the 
defending Super Bowl champions New York Giants. Not only did he see his 
Giants defeat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, but Adam also 
delivered an impromptu, pregame motivating speech to the Giants, which 
many of the team's players cited as an inspiration to their 38-to-10 
victory over the mighty Packers. Adam described the night as a 
``dream,'' but it is the rest of us who should be moved by Adam's 
bravery and persistence battling lymphoma. The Make-A-Wish Foundation 
brightens so many young lives, and I thank them and the New York Giants 
for helping make Adam's dream come true.
  I ask unanimous consent that Christian Red's article in the November 
27, 2012, edition of the New York Daily News, ``Young Adam Merchant, 
teenager fight cancer, gives NY Giants inspired pep talk before rout of 
Green Bay Packers,'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the New York Daily News, Nov. 27, 2012]

Young Adam Merchant, Teenager Fighting Cancer, Gives NY Giants Inspired 
               Pep Talk Before Rout of Green Bay Packers

                           (By Christian Red)

       Adam Merchant says he was ``a little bit'' fatigued Monday 
     afternoon, which was understandable given the dizzying 
     schedule the 15-year-old native of tiny Barre, Vt., has kept 
     since Thursday, the best four-day stretch of his young life.
       ``I'm feeling pretty good,'' Merchant told the Daily News 
     on Monday.
       Merchant flew down to the New York area on Thursday, gave 
     an unrehearsed rallying speech to Giants players Friday and 
     then watched Big Blue's romp over Green Bay Sunday night. He 
     also had the luxury of roaming the home team's sideline after 
     the first quarter, and then got a choice seat next to Justin 
     Tuck after the game. Not a bad way to spend a few days in the 
     Big Apple.
       ``That's the happiest I've seen him in a long time, Heather 
     Merchant said of her son. ``Actually, that is the happiest 
     I've ever seen him.''
       The unique experience came together through the Make-A-Wish 
     Foundation. Adam Merchant was diagnosed with Stage 3 Burkitt 
     lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system, in 
     March. Although Adam's cancer is in remission after 
     chemotherapy, he had to have his gall bladder removed during 
     the course of his treatment.
       While he was hospitalized, his mother began researching 
     Make-A-Wish, calling the Vermont chapter, which in turn 
     worked with the New York/New Jersey chapters to put together 
     Adam's dream scenario.
       Soon a ``wish granter'' visited the Merchants with a 
     special announcement. Originally, the Merchants were supposed 
     to come to the Nov. 4 game against the Steelers, but their 
     travel plans were postponed in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
       Instead of watching a deflating loss to Pittsburgh, the 
     Merchants got to take in a pummeling of the powerhouse 
     Packers. ``They're definitely no slouch team,'' Adam said of 
     Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.
       Heather Merchant, a supervisor at Stowe ski resort, says 
     her son has always been a Giants fan, despite living in 
     Patriot country. Adam and his father, Adam Sr., a licensed 
     nurse's aide, have stood their ground in enemy territory, 
     surrounded by Tom Brady fans. Those two Super Bowl victories 
     over Brady and Co. don't hurt.
       ``He's a walking encyclopedia, especially about football,'' 
     Heather Merchant, who has two other children, says of Adam.
       Despite his penchant for stats and football history, 
     nothing could have prepared Adam for his big moment Friday, 
     when he was called into the Giants' huddle after practice and 
     had to make an impromptu speech.
       He spoke barely above a whisper.
       ``I thought about it a little bit before I spoke,'' Adam 
     said. ``It came to me that the only thing that needed to be 
     said was what I said--I told them, `Go out and play, show 
     them why we're world champs.'''
       ``He was getting really emotional,'' said Heather Merchant, 
     who added that her son is back in school and ``getting back 
     on track'' after his treatment.
       Every player, from Eli Manning to Tuck to Adam's favorite, 
     Jason Pierre-Paul, spoke about how the speech inspired them 
     to get the victory. Adam, for one, thinks the team has turned 
     the corner and has another Super Bowl run in the making.
       ``Oh, definitely. We've come through so much adversity in 
     the past that I think we can do anything,'' said Adam 
     Merchant, who might as well have been speaking for himself as 
     well as the Giants.
       When the 38-10 win was in the books, Adam sat next to Tuck 
     for the celebration, even though he was sporting a No. 90 
     Pierre-Paul jersey. Tuck didn't mind, Adam said, and even 
     gave him a No. 91 jersey to add to his wardrobe.
       ``I have a newfound love for Justin Tuck,'' Adam said. 
     ``The locker room was awesome. Make-A-Wish didn't just create 
     a wish--it was a dream.''

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