Family and football Caldwells treasure time with favorite team

The Denver Broncos recently got a special signature on a special contract.

The team signed 6-year-old Bryce Caldwell as part of a trip to the UCHealth Training Center and Sports Authority Field at Mile High with his father Jeremy, his mother Suzanne, his older brother Tyler, his younger brother Carson and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"He thought it was the coolest thing ever," Jeremy Caldwell said. "He’s a member of the team. He was on cloud nine."

Cloud nine was a welcome place compared to the doctors' offices Bryce has been in and out of since last year when the Caldwells found out he has a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, which the Boston Children’s Hospital website states are, “highly-aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain tumors found at the base of the brain.”

Since the diagnosis, Bryce received a birthday parade at Enterprise Early Education Center and his wish to play football with his family was granted in a big way.

The Caldwells are Broncos fans. Suzanne made sure of where her families football allegiances lie when her boys were little.

They were made even stronger when, for a short time, the Broncos gave the Caldwells a once-in-a-lifetime treat in place of their trials.

"It was incredible," Jeremy said. "It was just kind of a bright spot for a difficult time, for what our family is going through. Just to get away from all of the stuff we’ve been dealing with, it was a nice…distraction."

The family was flown to Denver, given a room in the Ritz-Carlton downtown and driven about 20 minutes in a limousine to the Broncos' training facility the next day.

"They took us into the training facility, and they gave us a great tour of all of the ins and outs of their training facility," Jeremy said. "That’s where a lot of the stuff happens as far as they sign players there. They do a lot of the press conferences. They took us into their media room, the room where they study film (and) have all of their daily meetings."

From there, the Caldwells ventured into the locker room.

"Bryce even got to try on (Denver defensive end) Derek Wolfe’s sandals," Jeremy said with a laugh. "You could see his little feet compared to Derek Wolfe’s, which are…probably like a 16 or 17."

After the tour, Jeremy, Suzanne and their boys watched the Broncos practice.

"The boys were thinking of how big the players are," he said. "To see them up close, they were kind of in awe at their size."

The Caldwells' conversation was overheard by Broncos tight end  A.J. Derby, who soon approached them.

"He came over and was like, ‘We aren’t that big,'" Jeremy said. "It was funny. We were just talking about watching them practice and how cool it was."

When practice was over, Jeremy said the Caldwells' fun was just beginning.

"Right after practice the whole team was gathered around the coaches at the middle of the field," he said. "They were having their huddle. They called over to Bryce. He ran out there and was in the middle of all of them. They were talking to him, giving him high fives, fist bumps and all of that stuff. Even some of the players, they were taking their gloves, signing them and giving him the gloves. He has a stack of wide receiver gloves."

Denver outside linebacker Von Miller, who happens to be Bryce's favorite player, tossed a football with Bryce and Tyler before Bryce showed the Pro Bowl player a new touchdown dance.

In return, Miller put his signature on each of the cleats he'd practiced and presented them to Bryce and Tyler. 

"It’s always great to see your kid happy and smiling," Jeremy said. "That’s what it’s all about."

First-round draft pick Garett Bolles and other players also got the chance to meet the Caldwells before the family took to the gridiron for a game.

"They gave us some time to play on their field, just the five of us," Jeremy said. "That was really his wish, to play football on a real football field. We got out there and played. That was a lot of fun."

During their trip, Jeremy and his family also toured the stadium.

"It was cool," he said. "It was just great to watch them step out onto the field, take a look around and really soak it all in. They ran around on the field a little bit and everything, too. That was a lot of fun."

During the private tour of the stadium, the Caldwells stopped to stand where former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning once stood.

"They went through the locker room there," Jeremy said. "It was empty, of course, but they went through the locker room and saw where Peyton Manning’s old locker was. They stood inside it, and we took a picture. It was really neat."

The newest and youngest member of the Denver Broncos made the most of his contract.

"They just thought it was the coolest thing to be a part of the Broncos and Bryce being a part of the team," Jeremy said. "Tyler said he hopes one day he’ll get drafted by the Broncos so he can be a part of the team with Bryce."

For a short time last month, the Caldwells made memories they'd gladly give back, but will treasure.

"It was great. It was a lot of fun," Jeremy said. "Suzy and I have talked about it. We would trade that for not going through what we’re going through, but to have kind of that bright spot and that fun time to get away from everything, it was really neat."

The trip to Denver was an invaluable experience for the Caldwell family to spend time together.

"Spending time with the kids and the family, you can’t put any words on that experience and how much that means to you, honestly," Jeremy said. "There’s nothing else. It’s priceless."

The experience may be hard for Jeremy to put into words, its impact on him and his family was evidenced by something which requires none.

"They just had a blast," he said. "It was smiles from ear to ear the entire time."