AUBURN, Alabama It was midday on Tuesday. It was still one hour until practice. Before the rest of the team arrived, Sam Cunningham was on the main court of Neville Arena, passing Lior Berman pass after pass to help the senior from Auburn get shots up.
Cunningham used to think that his dream as an Auburn basketball player was to be the one receiving those passes and getting shots up. But he was achieving a different dream just by being there and supporting Berman in his capacity as one of the team managers. A dream that many believed would never come true.
Cunningham was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on March 7, 2017, seven years ago, while he was a sixth grader. He
He remarked, “I was a really healthy kid growing up.” “I was constantly active and participated in sports. Receiving that information was a huge shock to me.
Cunningham developed a fever two weeks after the original diagnosis and spent the next eighty-three days in the hospital. Bruce Pearl sent him a video while he was there. Cunningham was informed by the Auburn head coach that he was being prayed for and that he was in his thoughts and prayers. Cunningham carried one line in particular with him during his battle with cancer.
“On the video, Pearl told Cunningham that Cancer had chosen the wrong hombre.” It chose the incorrect guy to play with. You’re going to triumph over this!
In 2018, Cunningham—who had attended Bruce Pearl’s camp the previous year—was reconnected with Pearl via Smile-A-Mile, a cancer advocacy group. After exchanging phone numbers and talking for a while, Pearl promised Cunningham that he would reserve a manager’s seat for him once he started college.
Pearl fulfilled his promise.
Cunningham described him as “very thoughtful, very caring, and very supportive.” “Most of what you hear about him is accurate. I’ve never met a better person than him. It’s really special that he gave me a spot on the team and supported me during all of my treatments.
Pearl stated, “Sam doesn’t want a lot of publicity.” All he wants is to look like everyone else. And that’s what he’s battled for: to survive his cancer, to attend Vestavia Hills High School, and to fulfill his dream of attending Auburn University. Indeed, considering the possibility of becoming one of my managers. since he adores playing basketball.
During his cancer fight, there were moments when you might have felt like you were just giving the child false hope, but he was a man of faith, a man of God, and he had faith that he would make it through.
