After that game, Matt felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders that he hadn't even known was there. The season continued and Matt was playing phenomenal.

Julie and Lily were at all the home games. For away games, they would watch on TV. Lily would always cheer, "Go, Daddy!" when she saw Matt. The national media was getting word about Matt's amazing comeback and tremendous play.

Halfway through the season, Matt was looking in the paper and saw his name leading most of the major passing statistics for the year. He blinked and thought, That can't be right. He looked again and saw that he had seen it correctly. He was flabbergasted. Matt knew he was having a good year, but he never imagined it being that good.

The team ended up finishing 13-3 with the number one overall seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Matt dominated the first two playoff games and they were in the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl was in Atlanta that year, and Julie wanted to fly to the game with Lily.

Matt asked, "Do you think that's safe? You're seven months pregnant now."

Julie said, "Yes, it is. The last month is when you can't fly. Besides, this is the Super Bowl. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I am so proud of you. And I want Lily to experience it, too."

On game day, Matt decked Lily out in a miniature jersey and said, "What's today, Lily?"

Lily said, "Game day!"

Matt asked, "Yes, but what game is it?"

Lily replied, "Supa Bowl!"

Matt asked, "And who's going to win?"

Lily cheered, "Daddy!"

Matt picked Lily up and said, "That's my girl!"

The game was a gritty, tight, back-and-forth affair, but when time ran out, Matt was a Super Bowl champion. When he stood on the podium, Julie by his side, the Super Bowl trophy in one hand, and Lily in the other, he remembered his dream of a year earlier. It was now reality.

As the cameras clicked away, Matt kept saying, "I can't believe it! I'm just in shock! My life has really come full circle and I'm a Super Bowl champion! It just doesn't seem real!"

The reporter asked him, "What will you do next?"

Matt replied, "I'm going to Disney World!"

The next morning, in their hotel room, Matt woke up and told Julie, "I actually won the Super Bowl!"

Julie said, "No way!"

Lily repeated, "No way!"

Matt picked Lily up and showed her a picture of them on the podium a photographer had snapped the night before. He said, "Lily, look! That's us!"

Lily added, "We famous!"

The next day, they headed off to Disney World. Matt would never forget this victory. It was a moment he would treasure forever.