The King and the Possum New Year’s Eve Spectacular with Elvis tribute artist Andy Svrcek had a special guest during the evening of Dec. 31 at American Club of Coplay. Nathan Pittorf, of Buffalo, N.Y., sang with the Elvis impersonator at a fundraiser benefit for Ronald McDonald House’s charities. One-hundred percent of the proceeds went to the organization.

“Nathan first met Svrcek at Elvis Week (in 2015) in Memphis, Tenn.,” Maria Pittorf, Nathan’s mother, said. “Nathan always loved Elvis, but when he saw Svrcek perform, he immediately knew that he wanted to be an Elvis tribute artist.”

Svrcek helped make this dream come true at the event. Nathan sang for a crowd of more than 100 people, and they enjoyed watching Svrcek and Nathan ring in the new year.

“Nathan is a patient at the Ronald McDonald House, and there are [periods] Nathan is admitted for several months at a time for treatments,” Pittorf said. “I don’t know what we’d do for housing and meals without the Ronald McDonald House. They make us feel like family.”

At the age of 9 months, Nathan was diagnosed with mind descent disease, a rare brain disorder with the failure to thrive.

“He is 10 years old but has a mind of a 6-1/2-year-old,” Pittorf said.

Nathan was born without a part of his brain. He lacks the information connection that tells him he is hungry, when it’s time to go to sleep or if he has to use the bathroom.

“He is prescribed medications to help him sleep and to help him go to the bathroom,” Pittorf said. “He is fed with a feeding tube. He also has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and bad anxiety.”

“I love the way Svrcek sings and his boots,” Nathan said. “I sang six times in Memphis, Tenn., and I am excited to sing tonight.”

Svrcek said he wasn’t sure if Nathan would be able to make it to the event - until he saw him walk in.

“I knew the whole thing was worth it,” Svrcek said.

Svrcek thanked American Club of Coplay for donating the use of the pavilion, Ronald McDonald House, his wife Kayla, Jerry Deutsch, Ethel Lavenburg, Carl Luckenbach and Steve and Carol Burker for helping make the event a big success.