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Michael Jordan brought smiles to his old high school teacher, Ms. Etta.
Ms. Etta, who is currently in hospice care at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in the basketball legend’s North Carolina hometown, received a surprise video call from Jordan, 63, as part of her wish to talk her former student-turned-basketball icon one last time.
According to LifeCare staff, Jordan’s name kept coming up as Ms. Etta reflected on her favorite memories and past students at Laney High School. After various attempts to get in contact with Jordan, Wendy, a LifeCare social worker, received a call from an unknown number.
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“Is this Ms. Etta?” the caller asked, per Wilmington local news WECT 6, noting that it was the star athlete himself on the line.
Since Wendy was at her own home at the time she received the call from Jordan, who famously played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards over the course of his illustrious career that spanned 15 seasons in the NBA before he retired in April 2003, she drove straight to Ms. Etta.
“They laughed, reminisced, picked at each other, and shared a moment that brought tears to everyone in the room,” the staff at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare told the outlet of the retired teacher and her former student, Jordan.
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In a clip shared by the outlet, Ms. Etta is seen relaxing on a couch in her home while on FaceTime with Jordan. The basketball player, who was wearing a blue t-shirt, is seen smiling widely on the call.
It was a memory that Ms. Etta and her family will remember forever, they told the outlet.
Since his high school years, Jordan has gone on to become regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time due to his flawless 6-0 record in the NBA Finals, his incomparable scoring dominance and his unmatched competitive drive.
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Jordan — who is the father of five children — is no stranger to giving back, especially to his hometown. In May 2024, the basketball star and Novant Health teamed up to open a third clinic, the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic on Greenfield St. in Wilmington.
Jordan’s $10 million donation to Novant Health allowed for two additional Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics to be built in Wilmington.
“I am confident Novant Health’s new clinic will positively impact individuals and families throughout Wilmington,” he said in a statement, adding that he’s “profoundly grateful to help make this day happen for my hometown.”
The year before, the NBA legend marked his 60th birthday with a record-breaking $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish — the largest individual gift in the nonprofit’s history, according to the organization.
“For the past 34 years, it’s been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids,” Jordan said in a statement at the time. “Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration.”
