It is not an exaggeration to say that Ian is a sports-obsessed kid. He loves ALL sports. And when we say all sports, we mean it! Back at the beginning of 2022 – pretty much all at once – he was playing baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, football, and hockey! Wow!
Then the headaches started…and occasional double vision and vomiting. The doctors did not seem too concerned because the symptoms would come and go. Then, on a family trip to Florida, things got pretty bad. The doctor at the local urgent care thought Ian had an ear infection. But that did not explain his blurred vision. When they returned, Ian’s pediatrician suggested a visit to the children’s hospital. The results of an MRI were shocking: Ian had a brain tumor and needed immediate surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain.
Since his diagnosis, Ian has undergone two more brain surgeries and 30 rounds of radiation. The intense treatment has left him with some debilitating side effects, including difficulty speaking and walking. Playing sports has been put on indefinite hold.
This is where Team Summer kid Taylor – who is battling leukemia – stepped in. She heard about Ian through their moms and wanted to cheer him up! They met for the first time over a Zoom call.
Taylor knew that even though Ian has been benched for now, he could still be an enthusiastic fan. And she could help him look the part! We found out some of his favorite teams and players, and tracked down some AWESOME authentic jerseys for him. As Ian opened jersey after jersey, his smile got bigger and bigger!
So who made Ian’s short list? AJ Dillon with the Green Bay Packers (football); Corbin Burnes with the Milwaukee Brewers (baseball), Shane McClanahan with the Tampa Bay Rays (baseball), and one of the greatest soccer players of all time – Lionel Messi! We told you Ian liked all sports!
And until Ian is back out there being the athlete he was born to be, we know Team Summer kid Taylor will be rooting for him from the sidelines every step of the way!
If you have contributed to Team Summer, you’ve helped make these moments possible! Thank you! All our gifts are funded by people like you.
