Trojan Wish: Noah Barberena
November 24, 2021 | Trojan Outreach
Christian Bradley
In 2019, nine-year-old Noah Barberena slid into home plate during his Little League All-Star game. Although he scored a run for his team, he felt pain in his tailbone area. The pain intensified as the day continued. By the end of the night, Barberena was screaming in agony and was rushed to the hospital.
After a litany of tests, the family received a curveball. The pain was the result of Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
"Our world was completely flipped upside down," said Noah's father, Luis.
As the cost of chemotherapy piled up, one of Luis' friends inquired if the family had a GoFundMe account. They didn't but created one and posted it on Facebook. Luis' former USC coworker Bernard reposted Noah's story which snowballed into an avalanche of support.
"People we didn't even know were giving us money and bringing us food," Luis said.
The story eventually made it to USC Athletics and former head football coach Clay Helton.
"He spoke to Noah about two or three times and gave him words of encouragement," Luis said.
Trojan Outreach aimed to host the Barberena family, but Noah was physically exhausted from the treatment, so the team at USC found other ways to incorporate Noah into the Trojan Family.
Trojan Outreach surprised Noah on a game day in 2019 at his house with USC gear for the family and even a Traveler stuffed animal.
"That's what the Trojan family was all about," Luis said.
In 2020, the Barberenas and Trojan Outreach were excited to host Noah, but COVID-19 threw a curveball in that plan as well.
In mid-November of 2021, the family received confirmation from McCall Hall, Director of Community Outreach for USC Athletics, of the plans to host Noah and the Barberena family for the crosstown rivalry game against UCLA.
Noah's excitement was hard to contain the night before game day. On game day morning Noah was awake, dressed and ready to go by 6 am.
"Dad, we have to go!" Noah said in anticipation.
The family received a pregame walkthrough of Heritage Hall, Trojan gear and tickets to the Cardinal and Gold tailgate before heading to the game to watch the Trojans face off against UCLA.
While on the field, the Trojan spirit was electric. Noah stretched his hands up to high-five USC students as he walked by the student section, threw multiple shirts into the crowd and even danced with Hall as the DJ played music.
"Dad that was awesome!" Noah said with a priceless ear-to-ear smile. "This is the best day ever!"
The experience reached much deeper than the game; It served as a safe space for Noah to be a vibrant young boy apart from his battle.
"It was great to see him forget about what he was going through in life and see him enjoy life as a little boy should," Luis reflected.
Although the Trojans suffered a tough loss, Noah's experience was an easy victory. Noah couldn't stop celebrating in the car as the family traveled back home.
Saturday hit the ball out of the park, serving as a generous reminder of the power of the Trojan family.
"It was so nice to experience why the Trojan Family is what it is. It is such a community of unity," Luis said. "We felt the love of the Trojan Family ... and we are thankful."
