Kaden Curtis was all smiles Wednesday as his Wish, to meet Paul George, came true.
Paul George and the Indiana Pacers had a special visitor come through Bankers Life Fieldhouse Wednesday. It’s the type of visit that is memorable for the guest, but potentially even more impactful for the host.
Meet Kaden Curtis, today’s special visitor.
He’s a strong 14-year-old going through things kids — or anyone, for that matter — should never go through. Last year, on February 22nd to be exact, Curtis was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer: Germinoma.
Curtis said there are between 10 and 20 people diagnosed with it in the United States each year. While in the hospital, Curtis, a fighter, felt terrible. But terrible was still better than many others on his floor.
He went room to room at the hospital cheering on other patients, and with his IV pole trailing behind. More than a year later now, Curtis had some outstanding news to share.
“I just overcame brain cancer,” he said proudly, with his eyes watering as he discussed his battle, as well as his love for Paul George.
Because of treatment, young Kaden missed the second half of the school year last year. Now in ninth grade, he is already caught up.
And he’s the one receiving encouragement — from his classmates at school, many he doesn’t even know.
Over the last year, Curtis has had a lot of time. Plenty of time to watch his favorite team: The Indiana Pacers.
It’s particularly impressive because he’s not from here. Not even close.
Curtis is from Middletown, Delaware. Population: 18,000. That’s one-fourth of the population of Bloomington, and similar to Seymour, Indiana.
Curtis loves the Pacers because he loves Paul George.
“Ever since he broke out about a couple years ago,” Curtis explained to me as he sat on the Pacers bench, watching players warm-up 90 minutes before the Pacers cruised past the New York Knicks, 105-82.
“He broke out and started to play just like a superstar and was unrecognized. He wasn’t really talked about until now. I recognized that, that he was an upcoming talent and I kind of took ahold of that and became a really big Pacers fan.
“I’m a David West fan. I’m a George Hill fan. I’m just a really big Pacers fan.”
Last Friday, a party was held at the Curtis home for Kaden to celebrate that he had made it one year and the fact that he was still around. It was then where he received news that still has him smiling.
Through the door of his home walked representatives of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which “grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories, on average, every 38 minutes,” according to their website.
[Click here to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation]
They arrived and read from a scroll. “Here Ye, Here Ye!” it began.
“It was amazing,” Curtis recalled. “I gave my mom and dad a hug and a kiss, and said, ‘Thank you so much for keeping this a secret. It’s even more special when I get surprised.'”
In short, Curtis’ wish was being granted.
The wish brought him and his parents to Indianapolis to visit with his favorite NBA player. He arrived at the Fieldhouse Wednesday afternoon and had the time of his life.
“It was amazing,” he said hurriedly. So excited, so thankful. “It was just so cool that I could meet all the players and Paul. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s a dream come true. He’s my favorite player.
“All the adversity I went through, and for it to turn into a dream, it’s awesome.”
Paul George makes Kaden’s wish come true. (Photo via @Pacers)
George, the face of the team who suffered a compound fracture in his right leg in the fall, brought Curtis through the locker room and introduced him to his teammates. George gave him gear, including a jersey and an autographed pair of his shoes.
On the side of the left shoe was “Get Better lil Bro!” and the outside of the right shoe read, “Stay strong.”
14-year-old Kaden has stayed strong and beat cancer, but he still has some obstacles to go. Chemotherapy “messed up” some of his muscles, so they are very weak. He’s still working hard each day to get to 100 percent and to just be a kid again.
He loves Paul George, loves the Pacers, and loves the game of basketball. Cancer may have started a fight, but he fought back harder. Then, he had basketball taken away from him, cut from his team because he had cancer.
“Coach said I had the skill, but he wanted me to be healthy,” said the very well-spoken teenager, eyes still watery.
“And I didn’t think my life could get any worse, but then my mom said, ‘There’s a pot of gold on the other side.’ I thought making the team would be my pot of gold after going through all I went through. I thought making the team would be my reward, but this is my reward. This is more than enough.”
We, sports fans, attend games regularly and watch them frequently. Although the Pacers dominated the Knicks Wednesday night, I felt that was only noteworthy.
Young Kaden was in the building, watching his favorite team and earlier had interacted with his favorite player. He was having the time of his life, as he should.
“Yes sir,” he answered to many of my follow-up questions. He’s been through a lot and is still fighting. Now he has this experience, this memory, and some souvenirs to take back with him to Middletown.
“When Paul broke his leg, it was heartbreaking,” Curtis said. “But you know what, … I told myself, ‘If Paul is getting back like this, I can do the same thing.'”
Yes you can, Kaden. And do know that we’re all behind you.