TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneer tight end Rob Gronkowski surprised four local frontline healthcare workers with an invite to Super Bowl LV.
Mandy Mueske and Woody Nixon, of Moffitt Cancer Center, and Belinda Spahn and Heather Stegmeier, of AdventHealth, were under the assumption that they were not selected among the qualifying applicants for tickets to this year's Super Bowl until they received a video call from Gronkowski.
"You’ve been a huge help for patients battling a tough time this year during the pandemic. I want you to know that it hasn’t gone unnoticed and we want you there inside of Raymond James stadium cheering us on," Gronkowski said in the video.
"The first time the home team is the actual home team and I'm going to be there. I can't believe that," said Nixon.
"I am so excited," said Mueske.
Mandy Mueske works as a nurse at Moffitt. She cares for cancer patients with COVID and says this year has been tough.
"It's already a stressful job in general. I’ve had many patients cry to me. There’s already as scared as can be about their diagnosis," said Mueske.
Mueske says this invite is an amazing silver lining.
"It was pretty cool to be that guy to deliver that message and the excitement on their faces," said Gronkowski.
The four guests of the Buccaneers will join approximately 7,500 healthcare workers from the Central Florida area and across the country who will be highlighted as honorary guests of the NFL.
