A Manchester City fan who has been shielding during the coronavirus lockdown was left delighted after Pep Guardiola surprised him with a phone call.
Connor Shaw, 20, was born with a congenital heart condition which means only half his heart was developed.
At the age of three, he became so ill that he suffered multiple organ failure and was given just days to live. But he was given a life-saving heart transplant just in time.
He has since suffered further complications and his mum, Maria Chebrika-Shaw, told the MEN there have been 'so many times' when she thought he would die.
But devoted City fan Connor, from Chorlton, has defied the odds and is about to turn 21 on August 13.
Yesterday (July 17), he received a very special phone call from Pep Guardiola to wish him a happy birthday.
He has been shielding and has only left the house twice since February to have his bloods tested, so his mum Maria said the call 'really lifted his spirits'.
"He has been a bit low and suffers from mental health issues", Maria said.
"My sister put a few tweets out yesterday and some City players tweeted him wishing him a happy birthday.
"I then got a message from the guy who sorts out the club's social media asking for my number.
"He said they wanted to do something special for Connor."
Connor didn't know anything about the call until 20 minutes before and was 'overwhelmed' when the Blues manager surprised him.
"I took the phone to his room and Pep asked him how he was and said he hoped he was ok", Maria added.
"At the end of the call he wished him a happy birthday."
Maria recorded the phone call and posted the video on Twitter.
Thousands of people have since liked and retweeted the clip.
Manchester City re-posted the video themselves adding three love hearts.
"We're all still in shock. He was really happy and it really lifted his spirits because it's been a tough time for him", Maria added.
"Connor's face was a picture."
You can join the organ donation register to give the gift of life to others, by visiting the website at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
You can find out more information by visiting the British Heart Foundation website here.
