NASHVILLE – Dusti Loreant's camera roll is filled with pictures of her and her father.
In many of them, they're at Titans games, from Nashville to Texas to Florida to Ohio. The photos date back to 2004, when Loreant was just a little girl.
Leading up to Sunday's game in Houston, Loreant made a special request public on social media.
It read: SOS: my dad whom has stage 4 cancer is going to the game Sunday to watch his boys @Titans play...trying to make his day a little brighter, anyway I may kindly introduce him to (Derrick Henry)?
On the day the Titans running back captured the NFL rushing title, Henry made the dream a reality. After pregame warmups, Henry made his way to the sideline to see the Loreants, who were decked out in Titans gear.
Henry had seen the notifications on Twitter and he wanted to make it happen. The Loreants were positioned on the sideline at NRG Stadium in Houston, near the tunnel where Titans players entered and exited the field.
"I actually got to see what she tweeted, the pictures and what she was saying (about her dad), and it just touched me," Henry said. "They are devoted fans and have been fans for a long time. It just touched me, and I just had to meet (him). Cancer sucks. I hate cancer. I told him I was praying for him, and it was great to meet him. God bless him.
"I was happy that I was able to do that for them, and for her dad, because I know she really wanted it. I was glad I was able to do that."
John Loreant, who is from the Jacksonville area, has been a Titans fan his whole life. He became a big Derrick Henry fan when he starred in high school at Yulee High, just outside of Jacksonville. He watched him play as a prep star.
Henry chatted with father and daughter and took pictures before heading into the locker room.
"He said he's praying for me, and I appreciate that," John Loreant said afterward. "This is a dream come true.
"I got to watch him play a few games in high school – a couple of boys across the street played against him and complained about the headaches after the game.
"But it was a pure joy (to meet him)," Loreant continued. "What a rush. I really appreciate it."
Dusti Loreant, outfitted in a No.22 jersey, wiped away tears as she watched her father spend time with Henry. It was the perfect Christmas gift -- and more photos for the camera roll.
Henry ran for 211 yards in the team's playoff-clinching win over the Texans and in the process he finished as the NFL's leading rusher in 2019 with 1,540 yards.
"It was happy tears just to see my dad happy," Dusti Loreant said. "So it was very appreciated."
