Bob Seger meets super fan to grant wish after she woke from 5-year coma

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/04/bob_seger_greets_79-year-old_f.html#incart_hbx

AUBURN HILLS, MI – It took a stroke, five years in a coma, two years of rehab and a week of the nation hearing her story for 79-year-old Evie Branan to experience one of the best nights of her life Thursday.

Two years ago, Branan woke up from a semi-coma saying the first words she had spoken in half a decade – “I want to go to a Bob Seger concert.”

That wish became a reality Thursday night as Branan prepared to rock out to Seger’s concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills. But an even bigger dream came true as Branan received VIP treatment backstage.

Out of nowhere, Seger came up to Branan and gave her a hug. She lit up.

“I never thought I would ever see this day,” Branan said with a huge smile on her face. “Oh man, it was a lot better than I thought it would be.”

“I’m so happy I met Bob after all these years,” Branan said after meeting Seger and his family.

Happiness was an understatement. Thursday night was special.

Seger was just as amazed by Branan.

“Wow, wow. … Thank you,” Seger said to Branan with his arm around her.

Branan’s story started six years ago, when she suffered a massive stroke. She went from living a healthy, independent life to becoming a resident of Flint Township’s Willowbrook Manor in the long-term care unit.

She couldn’t speak, move or eat on her own, and the staff members were doing everything for her. That’s how it was for more than five years, until she came out of a coma in 2011. She has been an inspiration to Willowbrook staff as she has regained all of her speech, a lot of her memory and is taking up to 150 steps a day with the help of a walker.

As Branan got ready for the night, she put on aqua eye shadow, earrings and her Bob Seger 2013 concert tour t-shirt. She did her hair and put in a colorful hair clip.

“I’m so nervous I can hardly stand it,” Branan said as she was getting ready to climb in a limo and be escorted to the concert.

But she was ready. She’s been ready for two years.

She had keyboards and music notes painted on her nails. Branan said she felt like a celebrity.

“You look beautiful,” said Jennifer Hickey, Branan’s aid. “It’s so fun seeing Evie so excited.”

Hickey and Willowbrook Administrator Michelle Cross were amazed that Seger came to see Branan.

Seger even said he would dedicate a song to Branan during his performance.

And Branan kept her promise of what she would do when she met Seger.

“I had my arm around him and I gave him a smooch on each side,” said the cheerful Branan.

Branan’s last hope for the night? “I hope I can stand up and shake my booty.”

But first she still had people to meet. It seemed that everyone already knew Branan and wanted to meet her backstage.

Mark Reis, a guitar technician for the opening act Joe Walsh, said he had heard Branan’s story earlier in the day and was so excited to meet her.

Branan entered The Palace just as Reis was walking by the door.

“I got goose bumps (when I heard her story),” said Reis, 54, of Ohio. “That’s a God moment. I got to meet her. How cool is that?”

Bob Seger’s wife, Nita, and his son, Cole, also came to meet Branan as soon as she entered the room.

For a while all eyes were on Branan.

“It’s amazing,” Nita Seger said. “It’s a thrill for us as much as it is for you, I’m sure.”

At one point, Branan was speechless.

Cross was so touched that Branan was able to be a part of the whole experience.

“I want to cry. I really do. I’m so happy for you. You deserve it,” Cross said. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Branan responded.

Right before Branan was taken to the concert floor she had a tear in her eye.