Des Plaines teen to carry flag onto Soldier Field before Bears game

A Des Plaines teen will carry the Bear Down flag onto Soldier Field before kickoff of Thursday night's Bears preseason game.

Peter Branick, a 16-year-old Advocate Children's Hospital patient, was selected for the on-field honor to recognize him for being a role model to other patients and his passion for Chicago football, hospital officials said in a news release.

Peter was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent his first surgery to repair it at three months old. This past June, he underwent a cardiac procedure at the Park Ridge hospital to repair his mitral valve. He spent only two days in the hospital and is now off his medication and on the way to recovery, officials said.