Dying Kid Says Final Goodbye, Then Steph Curry Suddenly Appears & Does The Unthinkable
A dying boy said his final goodbye to his family. Just as his parents held him close, Steph Curry walked into the room, leaving everyone in tears.

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In the quiet hospital room, 12-year-old Jaden lay surrounded by his family, preparing to say his final goodbye. It had been a long and difficult journey for the young boy battling an illness that doctors had done all they could to fight. As the days passed, Jaden found solace in small moments, often staring at the ceiling tiles above him, counting the little specks and dents to pass the time.

But even in his exhaustion, Jaden had a special ability—he could see beyond the surface. He could sense when others were sad, even when they were smiling. One evening, as his mother Lisa sat by his side, Jaden confided in her, “I think I can tell when people are sad, even if they’re smiling.” He continued, assuring her, “It’s okay, Mom. I’m not scared. I’m not afraid of what’s next.”

Lisa, though heartbroken, smiled through her tears. She had always known that Jaden was an extraordinary kid, full of wisdom far beyond his years. And in the hardest of moments, he showed her what it meant to be brave. But there was more to come—something that would touch the hearts of many.

A Video That Went Viral

One afternoon, Jaden’s teacher, Mr. Ellis, stopped by with a bag full of cards and notes from Jaden’s classmates. The young boy, still frail but filled with gratitude, took the time to look through them. One card, drawn with a messy basketball sketch, stood out to him. “Tell Chris his drawing still sucks,” Jaden joked, a flicker of his old sense of humor shining through.

Inspired by his classmates’ love, Jaden recorded a short video message for them, thanking them for their support. “Keep playing basketball for me, okay?” he said with a smile, jokingly asking them not to tell his teacher, Mr. Carter, that he enjoyed math class.

The video, simple but full of heart, made its way across his town. Soon, it spread across social media, touching hearts everywhere. Within hours, Jaden’s message was being shared by people he didn’t know, and the video became a symbol of strength and resilience. Among those who saw it was a very special person—NBA superstar Steph Curry.

An Unexpected Visit

Steph Curry, watching the video at home with his family, was moved by Jaden’s spirit. “I need to meet this kid,” he said. And within a day, Curry’s team reached out to the hospital to arrange a visit. Lisa, overwhelmed by the news, told Jaden, “Someone special wants to meet you.”

The next day, a mix of nerves and excitement filled the room. Marcus, Jaden’s older brother, paced back and forth, while Lisa fussed over Jaden’s hair. And then, the knock came. When Lisa opened the door, there stood Steph Curry, basketball in hand, grinning from ear to ear. “What’s up, man?” Curry greeted Jaden, who was too stunned to speak.

Steph pulled up a chair beside Jaden’s bed and told him how much he admired his strength. “You’re not alone in this,” he said. “A lot of people are rooting for you.” Jaden, weak but smiling, felt a spark of hope in those words.

Over the course of their conversation, Steph shared his love for basketball, talked about life, and even promised to teach Jaden a few tricks when he felt better. Jaden, beaming from ear to ear, couldn’t believe his favorite player was sitting right beside him.

Before leaving, Curry gave Jaden a signed basketball as a gift, telling him it was for when he was back on the court. “You’ve got this, Jay,” he said.

A Changed Perspective

Jaden’s meeting with Steph Curry became a turning point. His energy was still low, but the visit filled him with a renewed sense of purpose. “I’m not just a sick kid,” Jaden said, his eyes brighter than they had been in days. The visit, combined with the outpouring of love from friends, family, and even strangers, gave him the strength to keep going.

As Jaden’s condition worsened, his family, friends, and the community stayed close, continuing to lift him up. And in his final days, Jaden found peace knowing how deeply he had impacted those around him.

One night, Lisa sat beside Jaden’s bed, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. “I’m so proud of you, Jay,” she whispered. “You’ve always been my little miracle.” Jaden, even in his sleep, seemed to understand the weight of her words, offering a faint smile.

When Jaden passed away a few weeks later, the world lost a young boy full of potential. But his legacy would continue.

A Lasting Legacy

Jaden’s video and his courage had touched so many hearts. Steph Curry, who had quietly sent flowers and a heartfelt letter to the family, did not need to make a public statement about his visit—it had already been shared in countless ways, inspiring people everywhere. Jaden’s story became one of hope, kindness, and authenticity, reminding everyone that even in life’s darkest moments, love and humanity could shine through.

In the months after Jaden’s passing, Lisa and Marcus found a journal that their son had kept during his illness. One entry read: “People are always telling me to stay strong, but what if I’m not strong every day? I think it’s okay to be tired, but I want to make sure people know I love them, because even if I’m tired, I want them to know that.”

The journal became a precious reminder of Jaden’s wisdom. Lisa and Marcus found comfort in reading his words, understanding that their son had always known what was most important in life: love, authenticity, and the courage to be real, even in the face of hardship.

Inspired by Jaden’s story, Lisa and Marcus began sharing his legacy with others. They visited schools, spoke to children battling illness, and worked with organizations that supported families facing similar struggles. Jaden’s story, they said, wasn’t one of tragedy—it was one of courage, resilience, and the importance of kindness.

In the end, Jaden taught the world that it’s not about being strong all the time. It’s about showing up, being kind, and loving with all your heart, even in the hardest moments. His story is a reminder that sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impact.

Jaden may have left this world too soon, but his legacy will live on, touching lives for years to come.

“I never really thought that I’d be in a position where people would be wondering what I was wearing,” says Wardell Stephen Curry II, or as fans of the Golden State Warriors, Team USA basketball, or his unmatched skills behind the three-point line call him, Steph. But they do—they care a lot. On LeagueFits, an Instagram account that regularly posts photos of stylish outfits worn by NBA players, over one million followers closely watch their favorite athletes’ style choices. “ID Cardigan?” one person commented on a photo from LeagueFits of Curry wearing a cream sweater with bejeweled buttons and two-tone army-green jeans. “Can anyone ID the pants?” asked another.

When Curry entered the National Basketball Association in 2009, what he and his fellow players wore to games wasn’t something they thought twice about. Fans weren’t thinking about it either. Fifteen years later, though, that’s no longer the case, and now, “tunnel fits,” or outfits worn by players in the tunnels that connect arena back entrances to locker rooms, are a business in and of themselves and a very public way for players to showcase who they are off the court. Because of that, athletes who maybe never considered fashion a priority early on in their careers now see the benefits of leaning into it and, as a result, developing their personal style. Curry is one such player.

(Image credit: The Hapa Blonde/GC Images/Getty Images)
On Steph Curry: Bottega Veneta jacket, tank, jeans, and shoes

(Image credit: The Hapa Blonde/GC Images/Getty Images)
On Steph Curry: Zegna shirt and bottoms

In the space between his gold medal win in Paris and the start of the 2024–25 NBA season, Curry—who, when compared to fellow pros like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, and Russell Westbrook, has never been known to show out style-wise on game day—debuted head-to-toe looks by Bottega Veneta, Versace, Zegna, and Ferragamo. “THE LOOOOOKS ARE LOOKING,” one commenter wrote on a photo of Curry’s laid-back Zegna look from the US Open that was posted by his stylist since 2023, Jason Bolden. (You might recognize Bolden from his work with Cynthia Erivo on the Wicked press tour and Nicole Kidman.) “Might be the best fit I’ve seen him in,” another person commented on a LeagueFits post showcasing Curry’s Bottega Veneta outfit from New York Fashion Week.

Suffice it to say, with the NBA season now underway, the four-time champion has never had so many eyes on his outfits. And already, he’s living up to the hype, continuing his streak of impressive and unexpected ensembles, now in tunnels across America (and eventually Canada). “Good fit,” LeagueFits captioned a pre-game photo of Curry from early November. “Someone tell Wardell to keep dressing like this.”

(Image credit: The Hapa Blonde/GC Images/Getty Images)
On Steph Curry: Ferragamo Nappa Bomber ($6200) and Jeans With Contrasting Stitching ($1090)

Nothing Curry does is by accident or chance. He’s meticulous in everything he pursues, and that includes fashion. The 36-year-old two-time MVP is well aware of the fact that what he and his fellow players wear matters. “These tunnel moments for us, we want to be super intentional,” says Bolden about Curry’s looks this season. People are watching—millions of people. “So when you see those images of him, and you see those ‘fits that everybody goes crazy over, it’s because there’s some intentionality [behind] them. It’s a feeling of, Wow, I really like this brand, Jason. We should really represent them,” the stylist continues. When people pick apart every outfit you wear like it’s game tape, an opportunity to highlight underrepresented designers and brands arises. At least, that’s how Curry and Bolden have chosen to approach some of their tunnel ‘fits in this era of heightened interest surrounding fashion in the NBA.

I need to be pushed in certain directions to know how I can stretch my range and versatility with the ‘fits I put on.

Steph Curry
“I’ve tried to take advantage of all of the opportunities, have fun with it, and [most of all] be intentional,” says Curry of fashion. His main priority is to uplift Black and Brown designers who might otherwise not get the sort of exposure that comes with a player of Curry’s popularity wearing one of their designs in the tunnel. When a really big game comes around, the duo wants to be ready to give a platform to a smaller, on-the-rise designer of color. “That’s the thing that I’ve really taken even more into consideration [this season],” Bolden says. “Anybody can wear amazing looks, but what’s the intention behind them? There has to be something bigger than clothes, and that’s to celebrate these talented people who don’t get an opportunity to be plastered all over the place.”

(Image credit: Jed Jacobsohn Photography by Jed Jacobsohn)
On Steph Curry: Savant Studios jacket and pants

But Bolden and Curry aren’t on this mission alone. Curry’s interest in buoying Black and Brown designers in the tunnel started back in 2022, when he partnered with Sherri McMullen, the owner of the Oakland boutique McMullen, and his former stylist, Sheraine Robinson, to highlight designers at several games during Black History Month. At the end of the regular season, he posted some of his favorite looks with the caption, “An honor to showcase just a few crazy talented Black fashion designers in the world this past month. Love to June79, Romeo Hunte, Richfresh, Telfar, and of course, Sherri McMullen of McMullen, for keeping me fresh during Feb. #BHMFits doesn’t stop here… keep going!” To game one of the NBA Finals later that season, he wore a custom suit by Patrick Henry of Richfresh that the league posted on its Instagram account. Right now, that account has 89 million followers. Nearly five million of them saw the video, according to The New York Times.

The following season, when Bolden and Curry began their professional relationship, they took the latter’s initiative a step further, partnering with Rakuten to amplify Black and Brown designers from the Black in Fashion Council in the tunnel. This year, when Curry’s style is at its most noticed, his ability to bolster up-and-coming designers is greater than ever before, which is why he’s once again expanding his relationship with Rakuten, the leading shopping destination for cash back and rewards. Throughout the 2024–25 season, Curry will continue donning ensembles made by Black and Brown designers like Billionaire Boys Club, Áwet, and Saif Ud Deen at select high-publicity games. To make it easy for fans to support these brands, following his tunnel walks, the outfits Curry wears will immediately be made available to shop and earn cash back on from Rakuten, with participating retailers including Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Mr. Porter.

(Image credit: Jed Jacobsohn Photography by Jed Jacobsohn)
On Steph Curry: Des Pierrot jacket and pants

“I’m excited about some looks that are coming up,” Bolden says. “There’s this play on utilitarian that we’re leaning into a lot—the Stephen Curry uniform.” Because it’s so utility-focused, he emphasizes that it’s also relatable and approachable for shoppers who might not be ready to wear something really loud and showy like some of Curry’s fellow NBA players prefer to wear on game days. “I think that anybody can see [these outfits] and they can break them apart,” Bolden says. They can take that “Stephen Curry uniform” and make it theirs.

“One style [I remember] is the Des Pierrot look from our last run,” Curry recalls of the denim jacket and white gauze trousers ensemble he wore in December of 2023. “He still stands out to me as a guy who had an amazing story but also had a signature design language that I really gravitated toward.” Hopefully, he says, the 2024–25 season can bring more moments like that. “The looks will speak volumes,” Curry says. “Then [people will] ask what the brand was, and obviously we’re going to tell them, and then they can shop it.” It might only take 10 seconds for Curry to walk through the tunnel and past the photographers who capture each player’s stylish moment. But for brands, especially ones waiting for their big breaks, those few seconds are all it takes. Curry and Bolden are on a mission to maximize those opportunities as often as possible.

Jason Bolden and Stephen Curry with clothes by Black and Brown designers like Áwet and Saif Ud Deen.

(Image credit: Oliver DeFilippo; Courtesy of Rakuten)
To do so authentically, Curry explains that he has to feel comfortable and connected to what he’s wearing. “I’m great when I get to look at a rack and say, ‘Oh, I like the way that looks and the way that feels,’ or ‘I’m not so sure about that,’ and try something [else] on,” Curry says. “And that whole process has been really fun to be a part of because I need to be pushed in certain directions to know how I can stretch my range and versatility with the ‘fits I put on but [also know that Bolden’s] got to take notes from me on where I feel comfortable and what I [will actually] want to wear.”

Though he’s interested in fashion—an interest that appears to be growing each season—fans shouldn’t expect Curry to suddenly start showing up to games in one extravagant ensemble after another. “I don’t ever want to look like there’s an element of trying too hard just for the sake of being loud,” he says. If he feels like the outfit fits the moment and him, it’ll come across better to fans, appearing authentic instead of contrived. “I like to tell everybody that Steph was quiet luxury before Succession,” says Bolden. “All our emerging designers that we always wear, there’s so much luxury there, but he’s not trying to force-feed you anything.” For the duo, the goal is to show that more designers than just the ones everybody knows about and wears, especially in the league, exist. Their work is beautiful, creative, and able to make an already confident competitor like Curry feel even more ready for tip-off.