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NORTH ATTLEBORO

You might call Joseph Constantini's smile his own version of the "Gator chomp."

The 17-year-old North Attleboro resident proudly wears the blue and orange elastics - the colors of his favorite college football team, the University of Florida Gators - woven into his braces.

So, it only makes sense that one of Joseph's top wishes was to stand among 90,000 other fans at the football team's season opener in Gainesville, Fla.

Wish granted. Joseph and his family, including his parents Liz and John; his sister, Christina; and brother, Anthony, are being whisked away for a 10-day Florida vacation that includes tickets to attend the first game of the season at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, affectionately known as "The Swamp."

His wish is being fulfilled by A Wish Come True, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses who live in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The vacation will be a welcome break for Joseph, who is dealing with challenges from multiple medical conditions, including microcephaly, in which the circumference of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has not developed properly.

Joseph wears a back brace about 10 hours a day, does physical therapy at Children's Hospital, and has two upcoming surgeries on his schedule.

"He works really hard," said his mom, Liz. "Joe is really active and always has a smile on his face."

Along with the challenges have come successes. When he was little, doctors were unsure if Joseph would ever walk. But, defying those expectations, Joseph enjoyed playing flag football at the YMCA, where he now helps out as an assistant coach.

"He's a gazelle," said his father, John.

Joseph said he is excited about being at a Gators game on opening day. His love of the Gators was likely sparked by an uncle, who attended the University of Florida. He fondly remembers a colored football that played the school's fight song.

"Growing up, as a kid, I always liked them," Joseph said, calling the team's mascot "just funny."

A Wish Come True found arranging five tickets to be a more difficult task than initially expected. The defending national college football champions have had soldout crowds for several years, which makes tickets normally very difficult to obtain. The university provided Joseph with three tickets, and two additional tickets were donated by a company in Florida.

There is plenty more on the itinerary for the family as they vacation in Florida. Joseph said he is also excited about eating at ESPN Zone, and spending time with his family at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.