8-Year-Old With Eye Disorder Meets His Hero In Mike Trout

ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) — Thomas Walkup beat the odds today when he took batting practice at Angel Stadium.

Walkup has an eye disorder, called Congenital Nystagamus, which causes the eyes to not work in unison at all times by causing involuntary shaking.

The condition rendered Walkup functionally blind.

Earlier in the year, Walkup and his family flew to UC Irvine Medical Center where he underwent surgery on his eyes.

The surgery was experimental and although unproven, it has seemed to work thus far for Walkup.

The eight-year old from New Jersey was able to meet Angels' All-Star Mike Trout on Friday, as well as take batting practice on the field at Angel Stadium.

Trout is not only Walkup's favorite player, but the New Jersey native happens to be from the same hometown as Trout as well.

During the three weeks following his surgery, doctors warned Walkup to avoid any strenuous activities, so he took to Anaheim to watch the Angels play the Blue Jays.

He currently has twenty stitches in each of his eyes.

"I just can't thank them enough," Walkups' Mother said of the Angels organization. "Everyday we've been at the doctors office he has said I wanna see the game or I want to see Mike Trout."

"They will always have a place in my heart for doing this for him," she added.

"I said thank you, he is the main reason I'm out to this game," Walkup said of Trout.