Samuel Knorr didn鈥檛 like the idea of missing school for an orthodontic retainer check at the UW鈥檚 . When he came face to face with Seattle Sounders star DeAndre Yedlin, however, he was very happy he did.
Twelve-year-old Samuel, who has cerebral palsy, is a huge soccer fan. As Yedlin entered the dental operatory room and said, 鈥淗i, buddy,鈥� Samuel broke into a huge smile that never dimmed.
鈥淚 knew him by his face,鈥� Samuel said, accepting a handshake and an autographed framed photo and cap from Yedlin, a speedy right back for Seattle鈥檚 Major League Soccer team.
鈥淲hen he first walked in, I鈥檓 like, 鈥楾hat looks like DeAndre.鈥� ”
After a brief conversation with Samuel about his soccer interests and Yedlin鈥檚 trademark game-day hair styles, and posing for photos, Yedlin said, 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I could do this for you. Glad you enjoyed this dentist appointment.鈥�
The idea for the surprise visit, which took place just before Thanksgiving, was hatched by Samuel鈥檚 dentist, third-year UW pediatric dental resident Jane Stieber, who enlisted the help of Linda Yedlin, administrator for the UW Department of Pediatric Dentistry and DeAndre鈥檚 grandmother.
Last spring, Stieber visited Yedlin鈥檚 office and noted the many newspaper photos of DeAndre, who recently came third in voting for MLS Rookie of the Year and made the MLS all-star team this year. Yedlin explained her connection to the Sounders鈥� first home-grown player and Stieber thought it would be great to have DeAndre and Samuel meet.
鈥淪amuel recently survived a roller-coaster orthodontic journey here at The Center with a great clinical outcome,鈥� said Stieber, who has been treating Samuel for two years, back when he was in braces. 鈥淗e lived in an orphanage in China until age 8 and has two adopted sisters from China with special needs who are treated by our dentists at Seattle Children鈥檚.鈥� The Center for Pediatric Dentistry is a partnership between the UW and Seattle Children鈥檚 hospital. It has particular expertise in treating children with special needs, including a clinic for children with autism.
The initial appointments were tough for Samuel, who 鈥渨anted to rip his braces off,鈥� said Stieber. When she found out Samuel loved soccer, she started reading up on the Sounders, hoping to earn his trust. Samuel became so comfortable with their conversations that he started correcting her 鈥渇acts.鈥�
The Knorr family 鈥� all of whom were in on the surprise for Samuel 鈥� includes parents Cheri and Gregg, and sisters Sarah, 9, and Hannah, 10. Brothers Joshua, also 12, and Andrew, 15. who are soccer players and Sounders fans in their own right, persuaded their mom to take them along to Samuel鈥檚 appointment.
Samuel has played in the TOPSoccer program, designed for children with disabilities. Now he plays FIFA video games daily.
鈥淚鈥檝e been working on this (surprise meeting) for months,鈥� said Stieber. 鈥淚t was perfect.鈥�
Everyone agreed.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe it,鈥� said Samuel as he left the exam room. 鈥淢y teacher is a Sounders fan. I can tell her I finally met a Sounders player.鈥�