Pagano meets teens who've gone through cancer before Colts game

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - If the Colts win wasn't enough excitement Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, two teenagers also got the chance of a life time.

15-year-old Michaela, or Mickey, Deputy of Indianapolis and 15-year-old Cory Lane of Camby knew they were going to the game in style: they were the Riley Children’s Hospital Coin Toss Kids this Sunday.

Michaela was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004, and has been cancer-free now for years.

Cory is fighting bone cancer for the second time, and is currently undergoing chemo.

The pair and their families took a limo to the game, and then got to meet Coach Bruce Arians.

Then, “someone said we have someone special for you to meet, and he [Coach Pagano] came out,” said Michaela.

Pagano said hello, gave them hugs, a poster, and then the two had some special words for Coach, as well.

“I beat it. You can beat it too,” said Michaela to Coach, in a video posted on Colts.com .

“I know I can; I appreciate that, thank you,” said Pagano to her.

Mickey shaved her head the day after Thanksgiving to support the coach, as well.

“He went through what I went through,” said Michaela to 24-Hour News 8. “I had cancer too myself.”

Cory’s exchange with coach became emotional.

“The way I saw him, I just almost kind of looked back, when I was starting my first rounds of chemo,” Cory said. “I told him, I know exactly what you’re going through, because I’ve been fighting, and I know he’s going to make it, and I’m going to make it too.”

“To see this great man standing there, waiting to meet our kids, it just felt so encouraging and wonderful for them to meet someone like that, who’s going through the same thing they’re both going through,” said Jenny Deputy, Michaela’s mother.

“He's really an inspiration to kids like us,” added Cory. “He can do it, we can do it. We're all in it together.”