South Decatur boy with rare heart defect attends Rose Bowl

(PASADENA, CA.) – A South Decatur student didn't expect to be in California on New Year's Day.

10-year-old Drew Shouse was born with a rare condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He has overcome months in the pediatric ICU, multiple open-heart surgeries, breathing tubes, and feeding tubes.

Shouse has always been an IU football fan (even before they were good) and has been given some unique opportunities to be around the team over the past few years.

The opportunities have been made possible by Team Impact which is a nonprofit that connects children facing serious illnesses to college sports teams. 

He got a big surprise earlier this week when his mom, Ashleigh, informed him that Team Impact and the Indiana Hoosiers are sending him to the Rose Bowl! 

Drew, his brother Jack, and dad Alex are attending between IU and Alabama which starts at 4 p.m. today in Los Angeles. The winner will face either Oregon or Texas Tech next weekend. 

THROWBACK VIDEO: One of the opportunities he's gotten was to help pickup the kickoff tee during the IU and Ohio State game in 2023: