I can't tell you how excited I am about this next story.
We first met Brian and Jackson last October, and
saw just how powerful a friendship can be.
Take a look.
>> I met Brian in 2003 at Tulane.
At the end of college, I was heading to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, in the States, the Saints just won the Super Bowl.
Brian made this cardboard cutout of me.
He brought it to Mardi Gras.
And, I've gone through all these pictures, and I get to the very last one.
It's Drew Brees and my cardboard cutout.
It honestly never occurred to me to try to pay Brian back for
what he had done, because you're never gonna top it.
Although, little did I know the circumstances that would come about
in a couple years that would, at least, give me a chance to try.
>> Hi, my name is Brian, I'm 30 years old and I was recently paralyzed.
Is it weird if I'm smiling when I say this?
>> [LAUGH] >> I was recently paralyzed.
>> In the weeks after Brian's injury, I go to the Saints' last open practice.
>> And I see this picture of Drew Brees with his arm
around a cardboard cutout of me.
[MUSIC]
Yeah, to say it lifted my spirits and boosted my morale is an understatement.
It's knowing that your friend is in a real bad spot and
then delivering just the granddaddy of all gifts.
>> He is going to redefine what is possible for
a person in his circumstances.
I have no doubt about that whatsoever.
That's life daring him to make something of that, and
Brian is not a guy that you want to dare.
>> Please welcome Jackson Smith!
Hi, Jackson.
>> Hi, Ellen. >> What a story that is.
>> Thank you very much.
>> That is amazing.
You both love Drew Brees, and you both are amazing friends.
And now I have a surprise for both of you.
Drew, are you there?
>> I'm here, Ellen.
>> Hi Drew. >> [APPLAUSE]
>> What you did for
me, and what Brian did for
me on what realistically was probably the worst day of my life.
I really didn't know if I was ever gonna see another day or
if the guys around me were gonna see another day.
Somebody out there was thinking about me when they really didn't have to.
I can never thank you enough for that.
Even now, having the opportunity, I can never thank you enough.
>> Let me tell you right now, you are the true hero, my friend.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Everything that you've overcome,
you're an inspiration to me, as well.
>> Jackson's been a hero to me, and obviously, a hero to many, many others.
But, also Drew is a hero to many others and my self,
so everyone here is a hero to me.
>> [LAUGH] >> From my wife, Brittany, and I and
Ellen and Shutterfly, we want to buy this wheelchair for you.
>> Yep. >> [APPLAUSE]
>> [APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]
>> I'm so glad to check in with you.
Tell everybody your incredible update.
>> I was doing what we call
our standard off-vent exercise. The respiratory therapist who was
looking at the screen said, you actually just took a breath.
You can breathe.
>> Wow.
Brian, Jackson, I want you to be sitting right here,
whenever y'all are ready, I can't wait to see you here.
>> We wouldn't miss it for the world.
Thank you so much.
>> Love you, bye bye.
>> Making his first trip away from home, please welcome Brian and his friend,
Jackson.
The last time we spoke you were in the hospital.
You were on a ventilator.
As we saw, you were able to get off of it a little bit but
it looks like you're completely off the ventilator.
>> Yep, I actually haven't seen it in two months.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Wow, congratulations.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Thank you, yeah,
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> What was the trip like getting here?
How was that? >> It was awesome.
I mean I've been living in hospitals for ten months.
But yeah, roadtripping across the desert was I was finally out in the world again,
for first time, it was amazing.
>> Yeah, amazing.
So much has happened, you're now Tulane, and
you're working on your law degree right?
>> Yes, I am.
I just finished my first year, so I'm still waiting on my grades.
If you could make a phone call, that would be great.
We'll see how those turn out.
>> That's fantastic.
And you were working at Goldman Sachs before this happened and
you got a call from them and?
>> They basically have just been patiently waiting.
I spoke to my boss just last week and they wanted to know what I was capable of,
what I wasn't, how much time a day, a week I had?
They're just gonna build the position around what I can do there.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Awesome, awesome.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> That's fantastic.
So tell everybody who went to go visit you in the hospital.
>> I got a surprise visit one day from someone.
I don't know if you've met him.
His name is Drew Brees.
>> Drew Brees? >> Yes.
>> So he just surprised you.
He just dropped in?
>> Yeah. We got a call one morning from Brittany,
his wife, and she was like, we thought we were going out to Sundance,
we thought maybe we'd stop by.
Does Brian have any time in his schedule?
>> [LAUGH] >> I'm pretty sure if he has
open heart surgery today, we'll reschedule it.
>> [LAUGH] >> He's got time in his schedule,
swing by whenever you want.
>> He's a great guy.
And since you like surprises, surprise!
Drew, come on out.
[MUSIC]
>> [APPLAUSE] >> [APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> Hey, Drew.
>> How's it going?
>> Good.
How's it going with you?
>> Good. >> You're in practice and stuff?
>> Yes. We start our off-season practices
next week, and we're gearing up for a few of our charity events in New Orleans June
4th, and then one in Austin, Texas June 12th.
We're busy raising four kids.
My wife's raising four kids right now while I'm practicing,
but we're doing great.
>> Thanks for being here and thanks for
being such an important part of this story.
It's so cool that this is New Orleans, which obviously,
we both care a lot about, and this story just connects us in such,
it's amazing the part you played in their lives.
>> Honestly, I've been so inspired by their journey and
really their friendship and to be intertwined
the way that we have just throughout that journey has really been incredible.
>> Yeah, and the family is, we have the Drew Brees and Brittany Brees seats and
then we have Brian and Jackson seats and your family is sitting in the seats.
So, it's really, it's a surprise for everybody.
Nobody knew you were coming.
There's been fundraisers I know because this is very expensive,
the wheelchair we helped you with but it's just a lot of bills.
How have you raised money and how much have you raised?
>> I set up a GoFundMe page, which initially we were
just hoping to get a little bit here and there, but
a lot of people around the country have actually stepped up.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Yeah.
[APPLAUSE] >> [INAUDIBLE] Just shy of 200k.
It is an amazing amount of money and it's just crazy how fast it disappears.
>> That's awesome and we have been telling people and
will continue because like you said, it does disappear fast.
You need money constantly coming in to help you.
Anybody who wants to go to our website, or go to his GoFundMe page.
But all season long, we've been partnering with Shutterfly.
They helped you get the wheelchair and they wanna do another thing.
They're gonna give you a check for $20,000.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> Ellen,
can I say something really fast here?
We are, Brittany and I would actually like to match this contribution, as well.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> [APPLAUSE]
Thank you.
>> Go to our website to help out if you can.