When 10-year-old Zack Holloway was diagnosed with leukemia, he faced the toughest battle of his life. But rather than succumb to fear, he chose to fight with the example set by his hero, Michael Jordan. “Michael Jordan played through the flu and won a championship. I can come to school after chemo,” he told his teacher, Mrs. Patel. But when Mrs. Patel wrote a letter to Michael Jordan about her brave student, no one expected what would happen next.
Michael Jordan didn’t just send an autograph. He showed up at the hospital with a special gift and a promise that would change everything for Zack.
Michael Jordan sat in his office, sifting through the mountain of fan mail that arrived every week, even years after his retirement. The letters kept coming—kids who had never seen him play, adults sharing stories of how watching his games had changed their lives. His assistant, Vanessa, placed a cup of coffee on his desk and handed him a small pile of letters. Most were the usual requests for autographs or charity appearances, but there was one envelope that caught his eye.
“Anything interesting today?” Michael asked, picking up the light blue envelope Vanessa had pointed out. It was from a teacher in Ohio.
Michael opened the letter, noting the neat but hurried handwriting. Inside, he found three pages of lined notebook paper:
Dear Mr. Jordan,
My name is Priya Patel, and I teach fifth grade at Oakwood Elementary School in Milfield, Ohio. I’m writing to you about a very special student of mine, named Zach Holloway. Zach is 10 years old and the biggest Michael Jordan fan I’ve ever met. He wears your Maroon 23 jersey every day. The school even made an exception to the dress code because he refused to take it off. He can recite your career stats better than ESPN analysts. His book reports are always about you, and his math word problems somehow always involve basketball scores from your games.
Last month, Zach was diagnosed with leukemia.
Michael paused, reading the letter again. He had received many letters like this, from sick kids or their parents, but something about this one hit him harder than usual. He took another sip of his coffee and read on.
The doctors say his chances are good, but the treatment will be long and difficult. Zach started chemotherapy last week. He still came to school the next day, wearing your jersey. When I asked him how he was staying so strong, he said, “Michael Jordan played through the flu and won a championship. I can come to school after chemo.” That’s the kind of kid Zach is.
I’m not writing to ask for anything, Mr. Jordan. Zach doesn’t know I’m sending this letter, but yesterday, during our class discussion about heroes, Zach said his one dream was to meet you someday. He said you taught him that winners don’t make excuses, so he’s not going to make excuses about his cancer. I thought you should know about this remarkable young man who carries your example with him into the toughest fight of his life. If you could send even a small note of encouragement, it would mean the world to him. I’ve included our school address and my contact information.
Thank you for your time,
Priya Patel
Fifth Grade Teacher, Oakwood Elementary
Michael put the letter down, his heart heavy. He stared at the photo of Zach attached to the letter—a skinny boy with a gapped smile, wearing an oversized Bulls jersey, holding a basketball. The boy’s eyes shone with fierce determination, and Michael recognized that same fire in those eyes—the same look he’d seen in the mirror before big games.
“Vanessa,” Michael called, his voice quiet.
“Yes?” she responded, entering the office.
“Clear my schedule for Monday,” Michael said, his mind made up. “Find out everything you can about pediatric leukemia treatment.”
Vanessa raised an eyebrow but nodded. “What should I tell Nike about postponing the meeting?” she asked.
“Tell them something more important came up,” Michael said, standing up and walking toward the window, his gaze fixed on the rain pouring down outside.
Zack Holloway had always been small for his age, but the past few weeks had melted away what little extra weight he had. His Chicago Bulls pajama pants hung loosely around his waist. The chemo was taking its toll. As he pulled his Jordan jersey over his head, he winced from the effort, his arms trembling.
“Need help?” his mom, Elaine, asked softly.
“I can do it,” Zack grumbled, determined to do everything on his own—just like his hero, Michael Jordan, had.
Downstairs, his dad, Marcus, flipped pancakes in the shape of basketballs, smiling as he set them down in front of Zack. “Only the best for my all-star,” he joked.
“Are you going to school today?” Lily, his little sister, asked between bites of her pancakes.
“Not today, Lil. I need to rest up so I can beat this thing,” Zack replied, trying to smile.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan sat in his hotel room, preparing for his visit to Milfield. He had canceled all other meetings, and after hours of research, he was ready to meet the boy who had inspired him with his strength.
The next day, Michael arrived at Milfield Children’s Hospital, where he was escorted to Zack’s room. When the door opened, Zack was lying in his bed, his parents by his side. The moment their eyes met, Zack’s jaw dropped, his face filled with disbelief.
“You’re—you’re Michael Jordan?” Zack whispered.
Michael smiled warmly, walking toward the bed. “I heard you’re my biggest fan,” he said, sitting beside him.
Zack’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t stop staring at the man who had taught him how to fight through pain and adversity. “This is real?” Zack whispered, still in awe.
Michael chuckled, “It’s real, buddy. And you’re the real champion.”
Over the next few hours, Michael gave Zack gifts—signed basketballs, a custom Bulls jersey, and even a pair of Air Jordans with Zack’s initials stitched on them. But the most special gift was the medallion Michael handed over—a gold piece given to him by his father after his first championship.
“You’ve reminded me of something important,” Michael said, his voice thick with emotion. “My greatest achievement isn’t in my championships; it’s in the impact I can have on someone’s life. You’re a champion, Zack, and you’ve been fighting with more courage than most grown men.”
Zack, clutching the medallion, smiled through his tears. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
A few weeks later, after a successful round of treatments, Zack’s health was improving. His fever had broken, and the cancer cells were slowly disappearing. When Dr. Rivera confirmed that Zack was in remission, his family celebrated with an intimate dinner. But there was more to come. Michael Jordan, through his foundation, had funded Zack’s treatment and was now opening the Jordan Center for Pediatric Cancer Research in his honor.
At a special gala in Chicago, Michael took the stage and announced that the center’s first wing would be named the “Zack Holloway Immunotherapy Center.” The crowd erupted in applause as Michael looked at Zack, who was sitting proudly with his family. “This is for you, buddy,” Michael said, his voice steady but emotional. “You showed me what real courage looks like.”
Zack, now feeling stronger than ever, walked with his family to the stage, his heart full of pride. He had beaten cancer, just like his hero had overcome every obstacle to win championships. And he knew that Michael Jordan would always be with him, in spirit and in heart, cheering him on through life’s toughest challenges.
Michael Jordan Once Left a Young Fan Utterly Broken and in Tears After Denying His Simple Request With Cold Silence
His Airness, Michael Jordan, may have retired years ago but is still one of the most popular people on earth. Fans of all ages adore him and love him and would be honored to meet the Chicago Bulls legend. But sometimes when they do get to meet him, they get shattered and heartbroken. And that is what exactly happened to a young boy who was denied a simple request by Jordan.
Jordan is well known to be a killer on the court. There are many stories where Jordan has shown his other side.
A young fan was heartbroken when Michael Jordan refused to take a photo with him
Back in 2008, Jordan was visiting a club in Miami. And he was waiting for his car when a young fan came to him. The fan was wearing Jordan’s shoes and was talking about how he admired him. And he asked if he could take a photo of Jordan.
But Jordan ignored him, and he kept walking to his car and left. And this left the kid in tears. He was very upset that Jordan didn’t even take the time to acknowledge him. And he reportedly threw his camera to the ground and broke it. When Jordan and his team were contacted about the incident, they had no comments.
This has not been the first instance when Michael Jordan?has denied a fan’s request. A few years ago, he denied rapper Chamillionaire a request to take a photo. He reportedly asked the rapper to pay up $15,000 for a jersey in order to take a photo with him. Chamillionaire was a huge Jordan fan, and he was disappointed that his hero did this to him.
Jordan could be mean on the court as well. He used to intimidate other players and often fool them into thinking they were friends. One such instance was when he played golf with Charles Barkley during the NBA Finals. Charles Barkley and MJ were on opposite sides and Jordan even bought him a $20,000 earring, so that Chuck would think they were great friends.
