Jim Harbaugh to 6-year-old Springfield cancer patient: ‘Keep fighting’

Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh invited 6-year-old Barrett Fitzsimmons, of Springfield, to a game next season during the satellite camp at Springfield High School on Wednesday.

Barrett, a student at Northwestern Elementary School and the son of Lana and Brad Fitzsimmons, is undergoing treatment for cancer. The cancer was discovered in May — it’s Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage 4 — and he began chemotherapy Wednesday at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

The Fitzsimmons are Michigan fans, and friends gave Harbaugh a “Barrett Strong” T-shirt and told him about Barrett’s story. They then shot video of Harbaugh holding up the shirt.

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Harbaugh had this message for Barrett: “Hi, Barrett, it’s Jim Harbaugh, coach of the Michigan Wolverines. I heard you like the Wolverines. I’m really excited to have this shirt. Thank you very much. It’s a wonderful gift. I want you to have my hat, my whistle and my shirt. And I want you to come to a game in Ann Arbor this fall. Pick a game, any game you want. We have eight home games. You just keep fighting and smiling, and the good Lord will taking a liking to you, buddy. Come see us in Ann Arbor, and I look very forward to meeting you.”

"Barrett Strong" is a reference to a Facebook page of the same name that has more than 1,800 members.

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