(CNN) -- It might be hard to believe, but as difficult as
cancer was, in some ways it was good for me.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Even the
word "cancer" brings back the nausea and pain, the fear I felt and
the heartbreak I saw in my parents' faces. The smells that fill hospitals and
the constant tired feeling that comes with treatment are also permanently stuck
in my memory.
But here's the thing: The disease changed the path of my
life in some ways that have been really great.
For one, going home after my diagnosis for treatment at the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle brought me even closer to my
parents. I always knew they'd be there for me, but I understood their love in a
whole new way once I saw how they cared for me during treatment. When I was
called up by the Red Sox I thought I'd always be the one who would be taking
care of them, but cancer turned the tables for a bit.
They were amazing in my recovery, and we're closer today
than perhaps we would have been had I not gotten sick.
When I recovered, the Red Sox told me I was going to head to
Greenville, South Carolina, to get back in major league shape. Honestly, I
wasn't happy. Once you make the majors it's never a great feeling to go back to
the minors -- no matter what the circumstances.
But I met an amazing young woman named Farrah Johnson there,
and today she is my wife and (the best) mom to our son, Hudson. Who knows if I
would have met her -- the love of my life -- if I had not had cancer?
When I hit the five-year cancer-free mark in 2011, two
things happened: Farrah gave birth to our son and my dad was diagnosed with
cancer. Thankfully, Dad is doing fine, but these life events caused me to think
about how I should be giving back. I couldn't help thinking of how I would feel
if Hudson had to go through what I or my dad had to deal with fighting cancer.
I had visited hospitals on Red Sox trips and met a number of kids battling
cancer. I knew from speaking with them that my experience mattered to these
kids and that the words of encouragement helped.
Together with Farrah, we decided pediatric cancer research
would be our cause and our mantra would be never quit.
NVRQT, or "Never Quit," is both a campaign that
supports kids in the fight against cancer and funds much needed research. NVRQT
is embossed on baseballs that can be signed, played with and given to a boy or
girl battling cancer. They send the message to stick with it and get better
because there are a whole bunch of people waiting for them to get back onto the
field.
The funds we raise support the Pediatric Cancer Research
Foundation. In addition to the balls, we're encouraging people to hold NVRQT
games in their community to support the children in their area and raise funds
for research.
As I travel the country for away games, I meet kids fighting
cancer in almost every city. They visit the ballpark, and I invite them onto
the field so we can chat and then watch the game. I hope the little things I'm
doing really make a difference to the kids in the battle today and the big
fundraising events we're holding will minimize or cure pediatric cancer for the
kids tomorrow.
I'm proud to do my part to make a difference, and I know I
have cancer to thank for my inspiration. To learn more visit www.NVRQT.org.
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