Liam Hendricks, the Australian baseball legend, shared the difficult news of what he is currently going through on Instagram. He stated: “Hearing the word ‘Cancer’ came as a shock to my wife and I, as it does to millions of families each year.
“However, I am resolved to embrace the fight and overcome this new challenge with the same determination I have used when facing other obstacles in my life.”
After he revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer, the baseball community has sent its best wishes for him. The Chicago White Sox closer made his non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis public on Instagram.
Hendricks debuted his baseball career all the way back in 2007 with the Minnesota Twins. He was listed as the team’s top 50 prospects when he started his career. He joined his latest team, the Chicago White Sox only in 2021 with a signing that is worth US $54 million.
The three-time All-Star pitcher from Perth says Monday is the day he will start his treatment.
The 33-year-old expressed his “confidence” in his ability to “make a full recovery” and “get back on the mound as soon as possible.” He continued, “I believe I will get through this with the help of my wife, my family, my teammates, and the Chicago White Sox organisation, as well as the therapy and care from my doctors.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma has a five-year survival rate of 73.8%, according to the US National Cancer Institute. While some kinds grow slowly, others are aggressive.
Fan reaction towards Hendricks’ cancer diagnosis
Usually, in the world of sports, fans are not known to be kind to athletes of any kind. However, due to the gravity of Hendricks’ situation, many were sympathetic towards him as it is a serious illness.
Statements from other baseball teams giving him words of encouragement made the spotlight as well. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and many others expressed kind words towards the player.
Fans who went through a similar illness as him at stage 4 told him that they were saved from it. Furthermore, that same fan gave him words of encouragement that he can also get better like that said fan.
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