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By Mallory Mattingly
University of Maine punter Anthony Pecorella leaned on his faith in God, and the example of a young friend, to help him beat cancer.
“People always say, like, when you got diagnosed, like, how did you not turn away from God?” the punter said on Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast. “There was probably, I’m sure, a moment where I kind of questioned, like, what is this, why, like, why me, why now?”
But then Pecorella met a little girl named Elianna who was battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pecorella and Elianna went through their cancer together, but unfortunately, Elianna passed away.
“I remember saying to her mom, like, how are you? How do you hold yourself together? How do you not turn to God and say, why, why my daughter?” Pecorella recalled. “And she said, ‘Because God blessed me with those four years, and He didn’t have to.'”
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“And it still, to this day, just gives me chills to talk about that, because here’s this woman in her utter moment of grief, all she could think of is how blessed she was to have those four short years with her daughter, and I, from that moment on, said, ‘How could I ever be vain towards God when this woman, who was quite literally going through hell, still put her faith in Him, because she knew that He had things in store for both her daughter and for her family,'” the punter added.
Related: A Champion’s Faith: Little Boy Declared Cancer-Free After Emotional Prayer from Tyson Fury
In April of last year, Anthony wrote a letter to Elianna on the one year anniversary of her death.
“I will admit it has been hard. The constant reminder that I can’t hear your sassy remarks or beautiful laugh breaks my heart,” Pecorella wrote. “Your family’s strength has been what I lean on the most. They started toy drives in your name for kids like you and I. How amazing is that! I am sure you know about all that already but I figured it was too important to not mention. They are very lovely people and I have enjoyed growing closer to them this past year.”
“When I saw them at my game this year I nearly broke down in tears before the game even started. It is unfortunate that it was hardship that brought us together, but I am proud to call each of them family. I will continue to be in their corner through it all, so don’t you worry too much about them!” he continued.
“Everytime I go back to 6 North I can see you peddling around the corner with your little car and your mom following behind as fast as she could with your IV pole. I think we are the first (and probably the last) patients to play bumper cars with our IV poles. I will have to see if the nurses will bring it back in our honor.” he added. “Elianna we love you, we miss you, and I promise we’ll play bumper cars the next time I see you. I know you and I talk often, but I figured everyone should share in our talk today. Everyone deserves to know the one and only Elianna Delgado. We love you Eli. Until next time!”
Through the profound strength of a grieving mother and the enduring memory of a young friend, Pecorella found a transformative faith that sustained him through his own cancer battle and inspired a lasting legacy of love and family.
Read Next: ‘Please Pray for Me’: Pitcher David Hess Diagnosed With Cancer Again
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