STEPHEN CURRY RECEIVES A REQUEST FROM A TERMINALLY ILL FAN — AND WHAT HE DOES IS UNFORGETTABLE

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STEPHEN CURRY RECEIVES A REQUEST FROM A TERMINALLY ILL FAN — AND WHAT HE DOES IS UNFORGETTABLE

Room 305 at UCSF Benioff Children’s Medical Center in Oakland stood as a quiet testament to a 15-year-old’s deep love for basketball and a hero he would never forget. The walls, once sterile and cold, were now covered in blue and yellow Golden State Warriors posters, each a vivid memory of Stephen Curry’s most iconic moments on the court. These weren’t just posters; they were Jason Martinez’s sanctuary. Despite the pain, despite the fatigue of battling osteosarcoma, a relentless and aggressive bone cancer, Jason’s eyes still sparkled with enthusiasm whenever he talked about the Warriors or his idol, Steph Curry.

“Did you see that shot in the last quarter?” Jason eagerly asked nurse Emma Chen as she checked his catheter after his chemotherapy session. His voice, excited and full of energy, contrasted with the pale exhaustion that marked his face and frail body. Emma smiled, adjusting his medication, and nodded. She’d watched the highlights too during her break. “That three-pointer was unbelievable,” she replied, continuing her care.

Basketball wasn’t just a game for Jason. It was a source of strength, a way to momentarily forget the pain that consumed him each day. For six months, Emma had seen how Jason clung to his love for the game and his admiration for Curry, especially during the darkest hours of his illness. The sound of a basketball bouncing on a court, the swish of the net as Curry made a perfect shot, had become his comfort.

Meanwhile, outside Jason’s hospital room, his parents, Elena and Robert Martinez, faced a battle of their own. Their son’s condition had taken a turn for the worse, and the oncologists were giving them little hope. “The tumor is growing faster than we expected,” Dr. Patel explained one evening. “We need to be realistic about our options. We can try a new chemotherapy protocol, but the outcome is uncertain.”

The weight of these words was almost unbearable, but Elena and Robert tried their best to stay hopeful for their son, despite the mounting medical bills and their exhausting work schedules. That night, after her shift, Emma couldn’t stop thinking about Jason’s one wish: to meet his hero, Steph Curry. Determined to make this dream come true, she did what she could. Sitting at her computer in her small Oakland apartment, she typed an Instagram post.

“My name is Emma Chen. I’m a nurse at UCSF Benioff, and I have a patient named Jason, 15 years old, fighting terminal osteosarcoma. His biggest dream is to meet Steph Curry. Please share with the hashtag #JasonMeetCurry.”

The post went viral, spreading across social media, reaching thousands of people, including one very important person: Stephen Curry himself.

Just 32 miles away, in his elegant home in Atherton, Curry had just returned from a tough practice at Chase Center. As he entered his home, he was greeted by his wife, Ayesha, and their daughter, Riley. For a brief moment, he was just a regular family man. But that night, his PR advisor, Natalie Brooks, handed him his phone with a serious look. “This has been going viral since yesterday,” she said, showing him the post about Jason.

In the video, Jason, his head shaved and body frail, spoke with quiet determination: “Steph Curry taught me that I can do all things. When the pain is too strong, I close my eyes and visualize his shots, one by one. It’s like each basket gives me one more day.” As the video ended, Curry sat in silence. His eyes filled with tears as he absorbed Jason’s words. After a long pause, he looked at Natalie and said, “We need to do more than just send a message. Much more.”

Over the next few days, Curry’s team began working on plans to make Jason’s dream a reality. Natalie worked behind the scenes to organize a visit, and Curry prepared to meet the young boy who had become his biggest fan. But as they were finalizing the details, another setback arose. Jason’s condition worsened, and doctors weren’t sure if he would be well enough to meet Curry.

“Are the doctors sure he’ll be well enough for the visit?” Curry asked, his concern evident. “We can’t guarantee it,” replied Natalie. “But we’re doing everything we can.”

Despite the uncertainty, Curry made the decision to visit Jason. “No matter what happens, I’m going to see him,” Curry told his team. “Let’s make it happen.”

The day of the visit finally arrived. The early morning fog had not yet lifted in Oakland when Curry, dressed casually in jeans and a cap, entered the UCSF Benioff hospital with his team, away from prying eyes. He made his way through the quiet hospital corridors, careful not to draw attention. The hospital staff, who had been briefed in advance, kept the visit under wraps. Curry was nervous — a rare feeling for someone used to playing in front of thousands of fans. But today, this was different.

“Are we ready?” Curry asked as they reached the waiting area. Dr. Anderson nodded, and they proceeded to Jason’s room.

Inside, Jason lay in his bed, still watching Warriors highlights on his tablet. He was so engrossed in the game that he didn’t notice Curry walk in. When he did, the moment seemed to freeze. Jason’s tablet slipped from his hands as his face lit up with a look of utter disbelief and joy. He could barely find his words. “I… I don’t believe you actually came,” he stammered.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Curry said, sitting beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The two of them immediately began talking about the game, about Curry’s latest plays, and about basketball in general. Jason, who had been struggling to stay alert due to his condition, suddenly found new energy. His idol, the person he looked up to the most, was sitting beside him, talking to him like they were old friends.

Jason then reached for a folder on the table next to him. Inside were his sketches of Curry in action — dribbling, shooting, celebrating. Curry was taken aback by the talent in Jason’s drawings. “You drew this?” he asked, genuinely impressed. “It’s incredible. Can I keep it?” Jason, still in disbelief, nodded. Then, with a smile, Curry pulled out a pair of Curry 8 sneakers — not yet released to the public.

“These are for you,” Curry said, “But they’re a bit plain, don’t you think?” He took out some colored pens and handed them to Jason. “How about you draw something special on them? I promise I’ll wear them in a game.”

Jason eagerly accepted the challenge, and for the next 20 minutes, he carefully customized the sneakers with symbols that represented his journey. When he finished, Curry took a step back and nodded approvingly. “They’re perfect,” he said.

Then Curry, always thinking of others, pulled out a basketball. “How about we test your skills?” he asked, with a playful glint in his eyes. With Emma’s help, Jason was gently placed in a wheelchair. Curry handed him the ball, and together they counted as Jason took a shot. The ball soared through the air and landed cleanly in the hoop. Everyone in the room erupted in applause, but Jason’s radiant smile was the true reward for Curry.

Three days later, the Chase Center was buzzing as the Warriors prepared to face the Lakers. Curry stepped onto the court for warm-up, but something was different. The cameras zoomed in on his sneakers, which were now covered with colorful drawings — Jason’s art. The hashtag #PlayForJason quickly spread across social media.

As the game progressed, Curry entered one of those rare “zones” where everything seemed to fall into place. Three consecutive three-pointers, followed by two more, had the entire arena on its feet. After one particularly difficult shot, Curry pointed to the yellow bone cancer awareness bracelet on his wrist — a gift from Jason.

Back at the hospital, the staff had set up a small celebration in the recreation room to watch the game. Jason, surrounded by fellow patients, smiled weakly as he saw Curry’s shots and the personalized sneakers on the screen. Even though he was in pain, he found joy in that moment.

“Those are your drawings,” Emma pointed out, showing the sneakers on TV.

Jason’s smile, though faint, spoke volumes. It was a smile that said everything about the incredible impact Curry had made on his life. Later that evening, as Curry gave his post-game interview, the reporter asked, “Steph, where did this inspiration come from tonight?”

Curry’s response was simple, yet profound. “There are things much bigger than basketball,” he said. “Meeting Jason and his family reminded me why we do what we do. Every shot today was for him.”

In the weeks that followed, Jason’s condition continued to deteriorate, but his spirit never wavered. Curry continued to stay in touch with him, offering support and sharing his experiences. As Jason’s health declined, he became weaker, but he smiled every time he saw his drawings displayed on Curry’s wall or received a new message from his idol.

A few weeks later, Jason passed away peacefully, but his legacy lived on. In honor of his memory, Curry dedicated a court in Jason’s neighborhood, where kids could play basketball and remember the young boy who fought with unmatched courage.

At the inauguration of the court, Elena Martinez presented Curry with one last gift: Jason’s final drawing — a picture of him and Curry together on the court, not as fan and idol, but as friends.

As Curry held the drawing, he silently vowed that Jason’s legacy would continue through every child who played on that court, every family helped by the HopeShot Project, and every game he played.

“Some heroes wear basketball uniforms,” the drawing read, “Thank you for showing me that I can do all things.”

And in that moment, Steph Curry realized that sometimes the greatest victories aren’t the ones won on the court, but in the lives we touch along the way.