An 8-year-old boy who recently suffered a relapse in his battle against leukemia was a special guest of the San Antonio Spurs during team’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Noah Keck has beaten the cancer twice, but recently relapsed, KSAT reported. Noah sat courtside for the Spurs' game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the AT&T Center on Sunday and got to meet guard DeMar DeRozan, the television station reported. Noah also got to meet Coyote, the Spurs' mascot.
"Noah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just before his first birthday," Noah's father, Chad Keck, told KSAT. "He's beaten the cancer two different times, but it's come back a third time. He's fighting as hard as he can, and we're looking forward to getting some very special treatment up in Dallas in the next few weeks."
Just before tipoff, DeRozan walked over to Noah to chat. The Spurs guard also handed Noah an autographed pair of shoes and a signed jersey, the television station reported.
"That's what it's all about," DeRozan told KSAT after the game. "It's bigger than basketball. To be able to give somebody that extra faith, that extra hope of whatever it is they need, just to give that back always feels good.
“I remember when I was a kid if I just seen someone famous, maybe 100 yards away, you get excited," DeRozan told the television station. "When you go up to someone and greet them and give them something to remember, it's always cool.”
It was Noah’s first visit to a Spurs game at the arena, and Chad Keck said it was a great day for his son.
"That was a great experience and he's never been to a Spurs game before," Chad Keck told KSAT. "This gives him someone to look for on the court and really identify with the Spurs even more so it all makes it a better night."
