Romeoville Man Fulfills Dream of Meeting Garth Brooks

checked one more item off his bucket list earlier this month — but he’s not done yet, according to his dad.

The Romeoville man, 25, is fighting a terminal, degenerative brain condition. That didn't stop him from fulfilling his biggest wish on Jan. 7, when he attended  show at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Wearing a T-shirt that read, “I’m living my dream, I’m going to see Garth Brooks,” Regan got the star treatment.

“They moved him up to the fourth row and fed him like a king,” said dad Robert Regan. “He did not stop smiling for one second during that concert.”

Brandon might have been the megafan in the audience, but it was Brooks who was starstruck, according to Robert.

“Garth said he could hear Brandon singing from his row,” Robert said, especially during Brandon’s favorite song, “The Thunder Rolls.” Last summer, Brandon during an impromptu phone call from the singer.

After the show, Brandon and his family headed backstage.

“It was unbelievable,” Robert said. “[Brooks] kneels down in front of him and goes, ‘Hi, Brandon, I’m Garth Brooks,’” he said, adding with a laugh, “and Brandon goes, ‘I know.’”

Brooks spent some time chatting with Brandon, sharing stories about his family with the Romeoville man.

“He was a phenomenal, phenomenal guy,” Robert said. “He is such a class act.”

Brandon’s trip was a dream come true for the Regan family, who have been working to help him fulfill his “bucket list” as he continues to battle his illness. With some help from local hospice workers, who coordinated with hospice staff in Las Vegas, the family was able to arrange for care to make the trip as comfortable as possible for Brandon.

The trip was made possible by generous donors, who pitched in to help after the family was forced to make the tough decision to use proceeds from an to pay for funeral costs.

Like Brooks, Brandon has become a celebrity, winning thousands of fans on his Facebook page. Many of those online pals have become real-life friends, Robert said.

The family got a chance to meet up with some of Brandon’s fans while in Las Vegas before heading home on Jan. 8.

“Brandon got on the plane, slept, and slept all the way home in the car,” Robert said.

Even though the trip tired him out, Brandon wasn't deterred from planning another outing to see Brooks. Noting that he’s planning a summer tour in 2014, Brooks asked Brandon if he would come see one of his Chicago-area shows.

Brandon quickly agreed.

“Garth stuck out his hand and said, ‘It’s a date,’” Robert said.