Sid Ortis to be granted Walking Dead Magic Moments experience

Sid Ortis, a Mountain Brook teenager battling cancer, will soon get to experience his own “magic moment” by meeting the cast of his favorite television show.

The 15 year old, whose love of the LSU Tigers inspired Mountain Brook residents to display purple and gold in tribute to him, found out Thursday during a ceremony at Mountain Brook Junior High School that Magic Moments’ Alabama chapter will pay for him to travel to Atlanta for “A Walking Dead Experience.” Magic Moments is a Birmingham-based nonprofit that provides non-medical wishes to critically ill children aged 4 to 18 across Alabama.

 “I was totally shocked,” Sid Ortis said after finding out that he will get to meet cast members and observe filming of The Walking Dead. “I love the show and to now get to meet the cast — wow.”

Sid was excited as he got to meet Kendall Johnson, a cast member from The Walking Dead. Before the ceremony, she transformed members of Mountain Brook Junior High’s Magic Moments Club into zombies. They walked up in zombie makeup for the ceremony. Hundreds of his classmates cheered for Sid when he heard the news.

Students from the school’s Magic Moments Club have been holding fundraisers all year to provide a Magic Moment and found the perfect recipient in Sid, said Courtney Carson, associate director of Magic Moments.

 “I know this moment will be inspirational and encouraging for Sid,” she said.

Mountain Brook Junior High Principal Donald Clayton and State Rep. David Faulkner, who represents Mountain Brook, said today’s ceremony is typical of how city residents rally behind city residents going through turmoil. Clayton said since Sid got the news about his cancer students have gone out of their way to show him loving support.

“We are a close-knit community,” Clayton said.

Thursday’s announcement capped a whirlwind week for Sid, who arrived home from the hospital after lung surgery related to his cancer to find Mountain Brook residents hanging purple and gold LSU colored balloons and bows outside their homes and businesses in his honor. News of the community setting aside allegiances to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers led LSU Football Coach Les Miles to call Sid last Friday and pray for him.

Sid said he is still in disbelief at the call from Miles, who offered Sid and his family box seats to view an LSU home game with his wife.

 “I’m like the only LSU fan here, and to see Alabama and Auburn fans putting out LSU colors was awesome,” Sid said. “I am just overwhelmed at how the community is supporting me.”

In August 2014, after complaining of pain in his knee during basketball camp, doctors discovered that Sid had osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. Sid began chemotherapy at the end of August and by November had undergone numerous surgeries. Sid’s parents, Lynn and Scott Ortis, said they too were shocked to find out Sid will get to meet the cast of The Walking Dead.

Scott said the timing couldn’t be more perfect as Sid is scheduled to return to the hospital for more treatment over the next few weeks.

"We had no idea they were doing this for Sid," Lynn Ortis said. "This is so wonderful for Magic Moments to do this for our son."

Since 1984, Magic Moments has provided magic moments to over 4,300 children in every county of Alabama. It is the only wish-granting organization dedicated exclusively to children in Alabama. For more information visit magicmoments.org.