An incredibly brave eight-year-old from Indiana, named Brody Stephens, who battled leukemia and formed a heartwarming friendship with sports stars like Stephen Curry, has tragically passed away due to a viral complication. Brody’s fight against acute myeloid leukemia began when he was just a baby, and although he initially triumphed over the illness, it returned in 2015. His father, Jason Stephens, shared this heartbreaking news with the Indianapolis Star.
Brody’s friendship with his basketball idol, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, was a source of great joy. Curry visited Brody in the hospital in November, and the two quickly became friends. During their one-hour meeting, Curry shared moments with Brody and left a lasting impact. Brody had his share of heroes visit him during his journey, including Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, tight end Jack Doyle, and coach Chuck Pagano. Recently, he was even flown to California by the Golden State Warriors to be their ball boy, attend their shoot-around, and join Coach Steve Kerr’s pre-game press conference. Brody’s father, Jason Stephens, described his son as an extraordinary child who inspired everyone he encountered.
In a heartwarming twist, Brody had no idea that his sports idol was coming to visit him, yet he had set up all of his Curry memorabilia in his room, as he typically did.
A viral video of Brody and his dad, Jason, dribbling a basketball in a hospital hallway demonstrated his incredible skills and brought joy to many. Curry expressed his gratitude for the chance to meet and spend time with Brody and his family over the past few months. The story began when radio host Dan Dakich tweeted about Brody, catching the attention of the Warriors’ team. In November, Curry and the team arranged a surprise visit to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. During their visit, Curry signed all of Brody’s NBA trading cards and his cherished Number 30 jersey. For Brody, who had already faced numerous challenges in his young life, this experience was a heartwarming break. During their time together, everyone present, including Brody’s family and the attending nurses, could momentarily forget their troubles and cherish the moment.
Curry expressed his appreciation for meeting Brody and spending time with him. He acknowledged that it was an easy part for him—simply showing up and getting to know Brody while hoping to create lasting memories. During his games, Curry wore black-and-orange BrodyStrong wristbands. Brody also made friends with Glenn Robinson III and received a letter from LeBron James. The Warriors have decided to honor Brody during the playoffs. Brody’s father, Jason, clarified that his son didn’t succumb to leukemia but to a viral complication. He emphasized that Brody will forever remain undefeated against leukemia with a record of 2 wins and 0 losses.