How a Facebook Post Connected Cam Newton With a Young Fan

Social media can be a mean-spirited, hateful scourge. It can also produce magical moments that would never happen if not for the internet.

This story is an example of the nicer side.

Taylor Deckard, a 10-year-old from Alabama, was diagnosed with advanced pulmonary hypertension four weeks ago. His fifth-grade teacher then posted this to Facebook:

The message received hundreds of shares on Facebook before it spread on Twitter and was picked up by the local news. Eventually, Taylor's wish made its way to his favorite athlete.

And that's why Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton spent part of his Tuesday in an Atlanta hospital: