Michael Jordan teacher reunion brought tears after a hospice patient got one last wish from her former student.
Michael Jordan gave one of his former high school staff members a moment her family says they will never forget. Ms. Etta, a hospice patient at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, North Carolina, wanted to reconnect with Jordan one more time.
Her wish came true when Jordan surprised her with a FaceTime call, according to WECT. The call gave Ms. Etta, her family, and her care team a warm memory during a deeply emotional time.
Ms. Etta Kept Talking About One Former Student
Ms. Etta worked at Laney High School in Wilmington, where Jordan attended school before becoming one of the greatest basketball players in history. As she looked back on her favorite memories, one name kept coming up.
That name was Michael Jordan. LifeCare staff said Ms. Etta had a simple wish. She wanted to hug her former student one more time.
After several attempts to reach Jordan, Wendy, a LifeCare social worker, received a call from an unknown number. The caller asked if he was speaking to Ms. Etta.
It was Jordan.
A Call That Brought Tears to the Room
Wendy was at home when Jordan called, so she drove to Ms. Etta’s home to help connect them on FaceTime. The moment quickly turned emotional.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare staff told WECT that Jordan and Ms. Etta laughed, remembered old times, teased each other, and shared a moment that brought tears to everyone in the room.
Video from the call showed Ms. Etta sitting at home while Jordan smiled on the screen. Her family said the moment will stay with them forever.
A Hometown Bond That Started Before the NBA
Jordan’s story is closely tied to Wilmington. He attended Emsley A. Laney High School before going to the University of North Carolina and then building a legendary NBA career.
The NBA says Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and became a global basketball icon. His 15 season NBA career also included time with the Washington Wizards before he retired in 2003.
Read more about Jordan’s career from the NBA.
Jordan Has Continued Giving Back to North Carolina
The hospice call also fits a larger pattern in Jordan’s public life. In recent years, he has made major gifts tied to health care and wish granting.
In 2024, Jordan and Novant Health opened a Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington. The clinic was part of a 10 million dollar donation that helped fund two new clinics in his hometown, according to Novant Health.
Jordan also gave 10 million dollars to Make A Wish in 2023 for his 60th birthday. The organization said it was the largest individual donation in its history.
Read the announcement from Make A Wish.
Why This Moment Hit So Many People
This was not a stadium moment. There were no cameras flashing, no championship trophy, and no roaring crowd.
It was one former student calling one woman who remembered him long before the world knew his name. That is why the story has spread so widely.
For Ms. Etta and her family, the call was more than a celebrity surprise. It was a final act of kindness from someone she once knew as a young student in Wilmington.