With September being Kick Childhood Cancer Month across Major League Soccer, the Subaru Love Promise Playmaker will turn its focus to telling to stories of those families who are or have battled the disease. Ahead of Philadelphia Union's home contest against Inter Miami CF, we're proud to honor Lucas Yoder.
It was July of 2017 and Lucas Yoder at the age of 6 made his very first travel soccer team for the Deptford Township Soccer Association. They would be called the Deptford Demons and he was ready to be part of his very first advanced sports team. Unknown to Lucas at the time he made the team, he had a monster growing inside of him… Later in the month of July, Lucas was complaining of stomach pain, crying how much it hurt when he would eat. His parents noticed that Luke’s stomach was distended… it looked like he was 6 months pregnant! They took him to the pediatrician right away and they sent him immediately to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
A number of hours in the ER later and countless x-rays/ultrasounds/CT Scans, it was thought that Lucas appeared to have a form of cancer in his stomach, but they had to do a biopsy in the morning to be sure. Two short hours later and our worst fears were realized; on July 29th, 2017 Lucas was diagnosed with Stage 3 Burkitt Lymphoma. Recognized as the fastest growing human tumor, Burkitt lymphoma is associated with impaired immunity and is rapidly fatal if left untreated.
Less than 48 hours later, Lucas started his chemotherapy treatment. To say it was intense is an understatement. Because of the aggressiveness of Luke’s cancer, treatment had to be equally aggressive. He spent the better part of 6 months in the hospital, getting treatment (8+ chemotherapy drugs over a 5-6 day period) which would destroy his immune system; we would then wait for his body to build his immune system back up, just to get the “all clear” to then do it all over again. Throughout this process, all Lucas wanted to do was to play soccer with his Deptford Demon soccer team.
Lucas was so driven to play soccer, after one of his weeks of treatment, he begged his parents to take him to practice with his team. Lucas was a few hours removed from receiving a blood transfusion, yet there he was, on the field with his team… smiling as if he had a new love for life. About 8 weeks after that night, Lucas was told the words he wanted to hear from the start of this journey… he was cancer free. Today, Lucas is a healthy, active, smart, caring, brilliant, strong, and amazing 9 year old. He still plays for his beloved Deptford Demons, and this year has also made a Deptford Premier soccer team. Two teams, four nights of practice, two games a week, Lucas has beaten cancer and inspires all those other children fighting their battle.
Lucas had a saying when he was in treatment and needed a boost… “I can do this. I can fight it. I am stronger.” Lucas fought his battle and has shown his strength; together we can bring awareness to childhood cancer and help all children in their fight to be stronger.
