Ohio Teen-Ager Dies of Leukemia After Payne Stewart Granted His Wish

A teen-age leukemia victim who inspired golfer Payne Stewart to give him his 1993 Skins Game trophy died at his parents’ home.

Joel Broering, 17, died Saturday after a two-year battle with leukemia. He spent Thanksgiving weekend with Stewart in Palm Desert through the help of A Special Wish Foundation.

“With all the so-called sports heroes in the world, to have someone like Joel want to meet you is very special,” Stewart said by telephone Sunday from Orlando, Fla.

“After he got the trophy, Joel said, ‘Today was the best day of my life,’ ” Elaine Broering, Joel’s mother, said Sunday. “I think he forced himself to be well enough to go. And I think part of his deterioration came from the trip itself, from the strain of traveling. But he wanted this so much.”