Editor's note: Chris Ellis, 7, died on Nov. 9, 2016. This story originally posted on Dec. 14, 2015.
CHICAGO — Dani Ellis said her 6-year-old son Chris is "so excited, his head is going to explode" after meeting his idol, YouTube star and gamer Zack Scott.
Scott, who visited Chris and his family at their suburban La Grange Park home on Sunday, said he's just as thrilled.
"It's truly an honor," Scott said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around the full scope of it all. It's hard to process that I could be a small but important part in someone else's life. It means so much that someone going through such difficulty in life looks up to me and would want to spend their time with me."
Chris was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in July 2014. In the last 17 months, Chris has spent more time at Comer Children's Hospital in Hyde Park than at home. He spends a great deal of that time playing video games and watching Scott play them, too.
Chris' favorite games include "Super Mario Brothers" and "Angry Birds." If he has trouble with a particular portion, he goes to Scott's popular YouTube videos, where Scott, 34, shows his followers how to solve video game puzzles.
On Sunday, Chris beat Scott "most of the time" in games like "Super Mario 3D World," "Mario Maker," "Mario Kart 8," and "Splatoon." He also showed Scott and Scott's wife, Ashley, his video game-themed room.
"He's imaginative, inventive and skilled," Scott said.
It was Scott's first visit to Chicago. Chris' family treated the Oklahoma native to Giordano's deep-dish pizza, and Scott and his wife spent four hours at their home.
"Being with Chris and his entire family made my heart swell," Scott said. "It was one of the best days of my life and is something I'll always remember. I feel like I got back more from Chris than I could have given."
Chris' dream was to have a "play date" with Scott, who has nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers. His mother posted a Facebook message in November asking Scott to visit her son. The post received thousands of shares, and Scott quickly contacted Chris' family to set up a meeting.
Since he was diagnosed, and cancer was discovered throughout his body, Chris has had his gallbladder and an adrenal gland removed, has lost his high-pitch hearing, and he likely will never be able to have children of his own.
Most of the cancer had been treated, but recently it was discovered again in his left thigh bone, right pelvis and left eye.
Dani Ellis said she still can't believe Scott made the time to visit her son.
"What seemed like a simple but impossible request from Chris turned into an awesome, memorable reality," she said.
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