Emily Barnard can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t move her hands.
But one thing the 13-year-old with Rett syndrome can do is smile, which she sometimes does when her father shows pictures and talks about their new favorite professional athlete.
The Barnards live in south Orange County, California, and Eric Barnard is a longtime Los Angeles Rams fan. But Emily’s hero isn’t Todd Gurley or Jared Goff or Aaron Donald. It’s Atlanta Falcons left guard Ben Garland, an Air Force captain and former practice squad player.