At just 10 years old, Elijah has already faced more challenges than most people do in a lifetime. Living with 22Q11.2 deletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition, Elijah\u2019s complex medical journey includes more than 65 diagnoses. But in September of 2024, his story took a new turn when he became an official member of the Arcadia University men\u2019s hockey team through Team IMPACT\u2014and that\u2019s where he met Donnie Feldman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the moment they were matched, Donnie has been more than just a teammate\u2014he\u2019s been a mentor, a friend, and a source of strength for Elijah. Elijah\u2019s mom, Sarah, said, \u201cHe\u2019s been a great mentor and friend since the moment Elijah was matched. After every game he made sure to come out and talk with Elijah and truly make him feel welcomed.\u201d Donnie quickly turned into a friend, so when Team IMPACT was asking for nominations for Teammate of the Year, Elijah and Sarah knew Donnie had their vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n