Young Oishei patient responds to Josh Allen's shout out

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — This season, New Era Cap’s “Director of Billistration” Josh Allen will wear a cap decorated by an Oshei Children’s Hospital patient ahead of every home game.

This week, Josh Allen was seen wearing the hat after a big win against the Kansas City Chiefs, and gave the creator, Carson Clauser, a shout out.

“First off, I want to shout Carson for making this hat. I did not wear it on the walk in today, I did not see it in my locker … I take accountability for that, but I got it on now so thanks Carson,” said Josh during the post game interview.

We first met Carson on Friday when he and his mother joined WIVB News 4 for a live interview. He shared a message to Josh prior to the match up.

“Go Josh Allen, Josh Allen’s my MVP, love you so much,” said Carson.

Each one of these caps that are decorated go on auction, raising money for the Patricia Allen Fund at the hospital.

On Monday after the game, we asked Carson if he had a message to say back to Josh’s shout out. He said, “I love you, Bills. Thanks for wearing my hat.”

In 2024, Carson spent 30 days at the hospital.

His mother tells us that he had pneumonia, which developed into respiratory failure, septic shock, and five episodes of cardiac arrest. He went on an ECMO machine for life support for five days.

“What saved him was the echo machine, and while I was in there, you can imagine those were a hard five days and nights, and the nurses had informed me that the ECMO machine they were using on Carson was purchased with money from the Patricia Allen Fund, so it’s a cause that’s near and dear to our heart,” said Monie Applegate, Carson’s mother.

For the decorating part of these caps, Carson returned to the floor he was on for part of his stay. Carson is a champion for the hospital.

“Thankfully, with all the people at Oishei, they take such great care of these kids, and then with the Patricia Allen Fund and this city and beyond the city, everybody who loves Josh, donating to that fund, it allows our hospital to buy so much life saving equipment that I think it’s all a great support system, everybody together,” said Applegate.

The auction for the cap that Carson created is open until Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. To make a bid or to learn more information about the partnership between New Era Cap and Oishei Children’s Hospital, click here.