New England quarterback Mac Jones is known as an exceptionally intense competitor, willing to do just about anything to bring his team home a win.
This week, however, fans and critics alike got to see a side of the former Bama signal-caller that isn’t often displayed in public.
10-year-old Raime Darling of Vero Beach, Fla., has hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. He and his family travelled to the Dana Barber Institute in Boston for his chemo treatment and a liver transplant.
After being released from medical care and told that he was finished with his treatments, Darling attended a New England Patriots preseason game where he got a big surprise.
Florida boys stick together.@MacJones_10 invited Raime Darling to join him at the first preseason game after the news that he was done with cancer treatments: https://t.co/7HwkAMAo1z
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 14, 2023
Jones, the hardened competitor, brought Darling down to the field to talk and share words of encouragement. He also presented him with a No. 10 pullover and a signed No. 10 Patriots jersey.
When it came time for the coin flip, Darling was on the field as a co-captain.
Of his experience in Massachusetts, Darling reportedly said, “Florida gave me cancer, but Boston cured it.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
