At one time, 11-year-old Luke Hoffman was the perfect picture of an All-American boy. He was an all-star in Fall River's Basketball League, he loved conquering the outdoors and he saved every nickel he could for his giant trading card collection.

Then, tragedy struck. As a severe hemophiliac, Luke was diagnosed with a fairly unknown disease called AIDS. Quite painfully, life was about to change. As a result of his courage, the love of his family and the compassion of his town, the name Luke Hoffman would forever become synonymous with the word triumph.

While Luke fought to get well, his parents, Matt and Lisa, were determined not to change anything they didn't have to. That also meant attending school. The time had come for the Fall River School Department to step up to the free throw line. A meeting was held, where, after much debate, understanding led to compassion. Although fear was mixed in, ignorance was silenced. It was decided that Luke would continue to attend school, though his days of playing organized basketball had come to an end. It was too risky. No matter, Fall River had still swished both free throws. Rather than shunning an ailing boy, they embraced him. That love would unite Fall River with pride, while setting a wonderful example for the rest of the country.

A group called the 'Friends of Luke' raised money. A video camera was purchased and the most precious of memories were caught on film. Meanwhile, meals were brought to the Hoffman house, autographed sports memorabilia arrived from around the country and 'The Make A Wish Foundation' contacted the family. Unlike many others, who requested trips to Disney World, Luke received three courtside tickets to watch the Chicago Bulls play at home. Later, that trip would become the source of great spiritual comfort.

During the flight, the dying boy insisted on a window seat. The Hoffmans weren't in the air for more than five minutes when Luke hooted, "There's another one!"

Matt leaned over. "What?" he asked. There was nothing there.

"Another rainbow!" Luke confirmed. "Don't you see it?"

Matt glanced quickly at his wife. She had the same look in her eyes. There was definitely nothing there. More than likely the illness, or the medication that fought it, was making their son hallucinate. Still, Matt couldn't lie. "No, I don't see it," he was sorry to report.

Luke's eyes never left the window, nor did a giant smile leave his face. "I wish you did," he said, "I really wish you and Mom could both see it!"

Just prior to the start of the game, Michael Jordan sauntered over and introduced himself to Luke. It was as if the boy just witnessed another rainbow. Luke's face literally beamed while he spoke to his hero the way someone might speak to a friend. Matt was impressed. The two carried on for a few brief moments, but as the King of the Court turned to walk away, Luke blurted out a favor. "Could you hit a three-pointer for me, Mr. Jordan?"

Michael Jordan stopped, spun on his heels and approached Luke Hoffman once more. "When I throw you a thumb-up, then you know that the last shot was for you!" Luke giggled with delight.

Jordan removed his embroidered Chicago Bulls cap, placed it on Luke's head and winked, "Enjoy your show!"

To Luke's dismay, the first half of the game was close. It seemed everyone on the Detroit Pistons was on fire. Worse yet, Michael Jordan was yet to explode. "That's O.K.," Luke whispered to his Dad, "wait till you see the second half!" The wait wasn't long.

Michael Jordan stepped onto the court like a man possessed. Before the jump ball ever landed in his hands, he quickly turned to Luke, smiled and winked once more. That was it. Jordan took to the air. The arena ignited with electricity. Luke was on his feet for the rest of the show.

Toward the end of the last quarter, Jordan was bringing the ball down on man-to-man coverage, but stopped just after the half-court line. For a split second, he just seemed to stand there and wait. A magical silence hushed the crowd. Then it happened. To everyone's amazement, he threw the ball up and watched. Spinning end-over-end, the basketball seemed to float in the air, while traveling the most perfect arc. SWISH! The crowd erupted. Jordan turned toward courtside, smiled and threw Luke the signal he had promised. Matt and Lisa burst into tears. It was like watching a miracle in the making. Luke simply returned the man's gesture, applauded and then kneeled at his father's side. "Did you see it that time," he pleaded, "did you see the rainbow?"

Matt nodded, while Lisa pulled the boy to them. "We did!" they swore, though this rainbow was different from others they'd witnessed in the past. This rainbow was only orange.

The Hoffmans returned home and Luke fought, until accepting his tragic fate. On the night of his death, the boy made a promise. "When I go to heaven, I'll send you signs so you know I'm O.K.!" Matt and Lisa wept and then rocked their baby into his eternal sleep.

A solid month of blinding grief passed before Matt could bring himself to visit Luke's grave. It seemed so unfair, so unnatural that a man should bury his own son. Lisa was relentless. Even if she wanted to, she could not deny that she felt Luke's presence in her every waking moment. Perhaps it was a mother's intuition, but she knew that Luke still had something to say. She began to convince Matt, that spiritually, their son had only gone to a place where he could encourage and inspire those who were not so strong. Driving off to the cemetery, her tender words renewed a fraction Matt's faith. Luke, however, would take care of the rest.

The sun shone down on the boy's cold stone. Matt felt as if a sword pierced straight through his heart. He dropped to his knees and cried until the tears would no longer come. "Oh, Luke," he whimpered, "if it were only me and…" Suddenly, he saw it. It was a rainbow. Though it had not rained for days, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the distance. The sky was painted with every color in the spectrum. It lasted but a moment and when it vanished, Matt wiped his eyes and stood. "Did you see…" he started.

"The rainbow!" Lisa sobbed, "Luke's telling us he's O.K.!" The boy's wish had finally come true. His parents were no longer blind. For better than an hour, they held each other and cried.

From that day on, when least expected, rainbows would appear in the Hoffmans' lives. After a while, they stopped asking others if they saw the same. No one ever did. As plain as faith, though, they were there. And so was Luke.