A 14-year-old Powell River, B.C., boy currently facing his fourth open heart surgery saw a dream come true — meeting music superstar and teen heart-throb Justin Bieber.
Bieber performed Wednesday night at Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver.
Following a vigorous Twitter campaign, Derek Russell received a call Wednesday afternoon to arrange a meeting with the pop superstar.
Russell's mother Allison Metzner says her son takes comfort in Bieber's music.
"I think it just kind of takes him away — he gets in the groove and he forgets about what is going on in his life."
Russell has Down syndrome and is set to undergo his fourth open-heart surgery — one he might not survive.
"I like Justin Bieber," the teen told CBC News. "He is nice and he is my buddy."
While meeting Bieber was a dream come true for Russell, Metzner believes her son will take it all in stride.
"I just think Derek would think [Bieber is] like the guy next door. He doesn't get the magnitude of this whole thing," Metzner said.
"He'd be excited but he'd be like, 'Hey buddy.' I don't think he'd completely come unglued … and I think it would be a really positive experience for him."
As Russell prepares for more time in the hospital, Metzner says it's comforting to know he'll always remember the day he got to meet his idol.
