Thanks to our favorite young college football fan, Jack Hoffman, we’ve already had one truly inspirational story this year involving someone battling a life-threatening illness while using sports as a positive influence for recovery. But Jack is hardly alone, and this week we’re happy that he’s been joined by a 12-year old Ohio State fan named Grant Reed, who underwent his last chemotherapy treatment for brain cancer last Friday and has defeated cancer.
And because it’s not a perfect Ohio State fan story without a fun shot at the Buckeyes’ greatest rivals, Grant had previously named his tumor, “Michigan,” thanks to the fittingly diehard passion that his OSU alum parents have gifted him with.
“We’ve beaten Michigan for the short term, but like any rival, there’s a chance it can come back,” Troy said.
Grant will return to the hospital every three months for an MRI. He suffered some complications from treatment, which impacted his speech and mobility.
“I want to recover. I want to talk faster, I guess. Walk faster,” he said.
Before he left, Grant and his brother donated two wagons for future patients at the hospital — part of the Buckeye way to pay it forward.
“We did make the stipulation. It had to say ‘Beat Michigan’ on it,” Troy said. (Via NBC 4, H/T to Larry Brown Sports)
I hate cancer, and I’m sure you hate cancer as well. If you don’t hate cancer, I’d like to ask that you leave us and go back to your ilk in the YouTube comments section. But I also don’t like that it takes cancer to bring us these great stories. If we could get the feel-good aspect of these types of stories without people (and especially children) having to suffer, that would be pretty fantastic. It sure beats the crap out of Aaron Hernandez news.
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