KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WKBW) — Football is more than what happens on the field.
That rings true for Jayden Lewis, a 16 year-old boy from Billings, Montana, who is fighting a rare form of bone cancer.
“I am a hardcore Wyoming fan, so when Josh Allen came to the Bills, I became a Bills fan,” he said.
Lewis, had a major lung surgery last week, but couldn’t miss the chance to see the Buffalo Bills in person, and his idol, Josh Allen play in an AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The family packed their bags and drove 16 hours to get to Kansas City, Missouri.
Jayden, who is not from Buffalo, and has never been to Buffalo says finding Bills fans near his home in Billings, Montana is tough.
“They’re excited when they see another Bills person wearing Bills gear,” he said of the rare fans he spots while watching the game in his hometown.
This team means so much to this young man, who’s experienced more of life’s trials and tribulations in two years than many people have their entire life.
“I did seven months of chemotherapy, 50 treatments of radiation and had two lung surgeries,” he said.
“I’m so proud of him and the man he’s become,” said his father Matt Lewis, holding back tears in an interview outside Arrowhead stadium. “The heart he has to realize that it’s not just about sports.”
This father, will do anything for his son.
“When you hear the word cancer, you don’t think about time,” he said.
Jayden has played football his entire life, but because of his cancer, Matt says he’s unable to play again.
“He’s probably going to lose his left leg to get the cancer out of his hip,” Matt said. “We were able to find some tickets for him, and bring him up here just to try to enjoy it and keep his mind straight while we battle this. We want to appreciate life.”
So this family, is taking this once in a lifetime experience all in. They say they’re so excited to meet other members of Bills Mafia, and cheer on the Bills.
“Life blows ahead of you so fast, and to appreciate your own life is something special,” Matt said.
Jayden says just like the Bills on the field, he continues to fight with courage, strength and grace.
Football is MORE than what happens on the field. Tonight I had one of the most touching interviews of my career w/ @jaydenstrongwyo for @wkbw at 11. Thank you for this bracelet—which says “no one fights alone” I will forever be following Jayden’s journey. @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/q4miOpmURp
— Hannah Buehler (@HannahBuehler) January 23, 2021
“I would have never thought it would come to this,” he said. “I’m fighting, still fighting and it’s just amazing,” he said.
If you'd like to donate money to help Jayden in his fight against cancer, click here.
