Early second grader Cade Boyle, who was diagnosed with cancer in January, got to have a special visit with the Brownwood Lions on Tuesday afternoon.

His cousin, Brownwood High School senior Kember Croft, helped arrange a meeting with him and several of the coaches and players.  Cade also got to watch practice in a golf cart, chauffeured by none other than BHS quarterback Clint Taylor.  Coincidentally, Cade and Clint both have an injured left leg.

At a recent game, the Brownwood Pink Out game in support of Breast Cancer awareness, BHS kicker Matt McCrane wrote “Cade” and “Boyle” on his wrist wraps and said that he wanted to “take the Kicking for Cade campaign to another level ”according to Cade’s aunt Kristi Thomas.  Cade was also able to personally meet with McCrane during practice.

BHS Head Football Coach Bob Shipley stated that Cade’s visit was special to him.  He lost his father this past year to cancer, so it hit home for him seeing such a young man battling the disease.

“It really tugs at your heart.  Someone that young shouldn’t be battling something like this,” said Shipley.  “When we are pulling for someone battling cancer all rivalries are set aside.”

Shipley visited with Cade who broke his leg (where the cancer was found) just last week.  Shipley told Cade that he wished he hadn’t broken his leg so that he could have played in the “big green room” with everyone.

Cade was a bit overwhelmed by the attention, but stated that he loves the Brownwood Lions and that former Brownwood Lion and now UT Longhorn football player Jaxon Shipley had even given him a pair of his cleats for encouragement.  After practice, players signed the personalized Lions jersey that Boyle was wearing.

Cade’s mother, Heather Johnson, stated that the community support has been great toward their family through Cade’s sickness.  She spoke of Cade’s visit with the Lions.

“It’s just overwhelming how it’s all come together, he just loves football,” said Johnson.  She explained that this year was the first year that Cade was old enough to sign up for flag football and he had gone to just two practices before he fell breaking his leg and is no longer able to participate.

Cade was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in September of 2011, but in January of this year, doctors realized that this was not the correct disease and that he actually had cancer.  He has been receiving treatment and has responded well enough that he was released from the hospital and now has scans every three months.

“The cancer had spread throughout his body, but now the doctors say that his scans aren’t normal but everything is smaller,” said Johnson.  “The doctors aren’t worried so we know everything is good.”

Cade lives in Early with his parents, mother Heather and stepdad Peyton Johnson, along with his two sisters London and Hayden.
Pictured above are (left to right):  Coach Shipley, Cade Boyle, Kember Croft and Clint Taylor.

Below are more photos of Boyle’s visit with the Lions.

Cade meets BHS Kicker Matt McCrane.

The several players take time to meet Cade.

Cade talks with Coach Shipley

Cade cruising through the practice field with Kember and Clint.