MLB Pitcher Liam Hendriks Wins First Game Back After Battle with Cancer
By Movieguide® Contributor
Chicago White Sox pitcher, Liam Hendriks was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
In January, Hendriks received his diagnosis. From there, he underwent immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
Hendriks wrote on his social media, “Cancer is scary… and weird… and hard. Treatment is tough. If you’ve ever been thru this, you know what I’m talking about. As a patient, a caregiver, or friend- it takes it toll on all of us.”
Then on April 5, Hendriks provided an update on his Instagram, “5 months ago my life changed forever. You never think you will be the one who hears “you have cancer” but there I was… in shock and fear not knowing what comes next. I started treatment after SO many life altering appointments on January 9th, 2023.”
He added “Every 28 days, I would have another round. Every 28 days, I got closer to the PET scan that would dictate how many more rounds there would be. Every 28 days, I got closer to this moment.”
“These past 5 months have been both the quickest and slowest of my life. Being able to ring this victory bell has been one of the most emotional things I’ve ever done. I cannot thank my team of doctors and nurses enough for coming up with the best medical plan for me. No words can express the gratitude I have for them saving my life,” Hendriks wrote.
Finally, Hendriks returned to the mound for the Chicago White Sox. Hendriks pitched a perfect ninth inning and the Sox won 6-2 over the Detroit Tigers.
Hendriks wife Kristi texted Hendriks and told him that his win came on National Cancer Survivors Day.
He told PEOPLE, “It’s one of those scripts.”
After the win, Hendriks told MLB.com, “That’s one thing that’s pretty special. As soon as you get diagnosed, you are considered a survivor. You’ve lived through this. Hopefully, I can continue moving forward and continue, somewhat, at least doing the right thing on the field and give some people some hope to continue fighting.”