Klopp in ‘get well’ message to Noah
AN EVERTON FC superfan from Southport has received a special get well message from Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp.
Noah Cunningham, 13, had a 10-hour operation on his spine last week and is expected to be in intensive care for several weeks.
The Meols Cop High pupil suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe muscle wasting conditions that gets worse with age. The operation was to fuse his spine together.
Messages from well-wishers poured in for Noah before the operation, with the latest being a video from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Noah’s aunt, Alison Ruston, bumped into Klopp by chance at a Formby petrol station last week and took the opportunity to get him to send the video message.
In the video Klopp says: “Hi Noah, we’re here in Formby at the petrol station, and your auntie told me in this moment that you’re not in the best shape, but that will change soon, I’m sure.
“I’ve heard you are a huge Evertonian, so hopefully you enjoy this little video anyway, so all the best and see you at the latest Derby.”
Then Alison interrupts saying: “When we win,” to which Klopp laughs and smiles – “Yeah, of course not.”
In the first 24 hours the video was liked and retweeted thousands of times.
Alison said: “I was just filling up in Formby and Klopp was at the next pump, I asked him for a selfie and he suggested he did a video instead, he was such a lovely man.
“We showed Noah the video when he came round from his operation and he can’t speak, but he was smiling his head off and did lots of thumbs-ups.
“We’ve had lots of messages through on the back of the video and Noah’s mum, Vicky, is reading every one out to him and it’s lifting his spirits.
“Noah really needs his own saying: hydrotheraphy pool, because it will help his recovery immensely, so we’re fundraising for that at the minute – every little helps.”
Noah has amassed a big following over the years.
He captured the hearts of the nation last year after a social media campaign for Everton fans to wish him a happy birthday went viral.
During a warm-up before the Blues took on Dagenham & Redbridge FC, the birthday boy was brought onto the pitch and presented with a birthday card by Everton great Duncan Ferguson.
Then, in the 12th minute of the game, both sets of fans joined in to sing happy birthday.
You can follow Noah’s story on his go fund me page, Team Noah.