Robert Griffin III, Redskins grant 18-year-old’s wish

RICHMOND, Va. — After Sunday’s practice, Robert Griffin III took the time to help make a wish come true.

In conjunction with the Redskins Charitable Foundation and Make-A-Wish Mid- Atlantic, the quarterback granted 18-year-old Jamia Johnson, a native of Lusby, Maryland, her wish to meet him.

“[Johnson], she’s amazing,” Griffin said. “She wanted to come out and meet the team; she told me that I was her favorite player. It’s crazy in those situations — they think that they’re being blessed, but they are really blessing us more so. All the guys did a great job, going over talking to her. I got a chance to play catch and run a race; she beat me in the race. It’s great to be able to have an impact like that.”

Johnson was diagnosed with end stage renal disease in May 2010, continuing dialysis until she was able to receive a kidney transplant in 2013.

Griffin turned the tables on Johnson — he asked for her autograph. She signed his practice jersey around the left chest. He knows how much it meant to her.

“I asked her to sign my jersey, because I got the cancer survivors, [Saturday], to sign my cleats, so I wanted to give her something special and something to carry along this journey.”

Griffin says he had a flashback to his childhood and thought about what it would have meant for one of his idols to ask him.

“When I was growing up, I always wanted to meet the guys I looked up to, role models. If I had met Michael Jordan and he had asked me for my autograph I think I would have been in shock. I think it means something to them, and if I’m their first autograph, then that’s an honor for me.”

Follow @WTOP and @WTOPSports on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.