A young Candian football fan, Kenton Doust, was unfortunately diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015 but refused to let the debilitating disease get the better of him. Being only thirteen years of old at the time of diagnosis, the odds were stacked against him yet Doust found solace in his beloved team, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
It was thanks to the support from players and fans alike that the he found the strength to battle three brain tumours and undergo 25 sessions of chemotherapy.
Upon hearing that he was a club supporter, Whitecaps midfielder, Russell Teibert sent autographed merchandise before later visiting the hospital. It's an experience that Doust won't forget as he is forever grateful to everyone involved;
We instantly just hit it off playing FIFA.. For being in such a difficult position, the positive attitude he had, the smile on his face, it made me feel happy.
They [Vancouver Whitecaps] make me feel special, they encouraged me to keep fighting. I just feel loved. I feel a part of the team, a part of the community that they have. It’s indescribable.
#tbt to one of the best nights of my life @WhitecapsFC #gocapsgo #VWFC pic.twitter.com/CSArdCMPLw
— Kenton Doust (@KentonDoust) June 26, 2016
Remarkably, Kenton Doust managed to defeat cancer, resulting in EA Sports - who are located in British Colombia - adding him into FIFA 17 as a form of celebration.
Gleefully, he tweeted an image of his FIFA Ultimate Team playing card with the stats to match his perseverance.
this too but it's amazing what they did for me and how much it helped me pic.twitter.com/D76rURMdvD
— Kenton Doust (@KentonDoust) December 6, 2016
It's yet another heartwarming tale of how one may find comfort in sports when everything else in life seemingly descends into chaos.