It was the chance of a lifetime for a young boy who has been through so much. Just a few weeks after finishing treatment for a very rare pediatric brain cancer, 12-year-old Fletcher Rollinson, a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, got to help the team announce their first round pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.
Due to social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Fletcher helped NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell make the announcement of the tenth pick overall in the draft with a pre-recorded message filmed in his basement.
Read MoreFletcher’s Cancer Journey
From his enthusiastic Draft announcement, you’d never guess the struggle Fletcher had been though over the past nine months, St. Jude’s said. He was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor that is so rare, there’s no defined protocol for how to treat it.
After being diagnosed last July, Fletcher was referred to St. Jude’s to undergo treatment, which ended up being surgery to remove the tumor, followed by proton therapy and chemotherapy treatments. He just finished treatment and got the OK to head back home last month — and is doing well with no evidence of disease, St. Jude’s said.
Support From the Browns
The isn’t the first time the Browns have supported the young fan through his cancer battle. Before he began radiation treatment in late 2019, Fletcher got the opportunity to tour the Browns’ training facility in Cleveland where he met some of the players, including wide-receiver Jarvis Landry. Before a game in November 2019, Fletcher was invited onto the field and Landry gifted him some gloves.
The player and the young fan struck up a friendship after that, and Landry even donned a bracelet made to support Fletcher throughout his cancer journey during games. While Fletcher was undergoing chemo, the player also sent him video messages of encouragement and support.
Changes to Pediatric Cancer Care Amid the Pandemic
The families of many pediatric cancer patients across the country are grappling with how to handle new regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many hospitals across the U.S., including those in New York City, the epicenter of the country’s pandemic, have adopted policies that either limit how many family members can accompany a child to cancer treatment or limit the amount of time any visitors can be in a hospital. These new challenges can be really difficult on the families — but experts say they’re an important step in protecting both patients and their loved ones.
Dr. Puvri Parikh discusses changing regulations for children with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a little bit scary for the child, and probably lonely, too, because they count on their parents and family for support during difficult times,” Dr. Puvri Parikh, an Immunologist at New York University (NYU) Langone Health, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. The best way to explain to the child — and children are very smart and understanding people — is basically to say, ‘This is to keep you safe and to actually keep your mom and dad and your grandparents safe, too.'”
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