TUCSON, Arizona — "Kids want to talk about kid's stuff," said Canyon View Little League All-Star coach Zak Anderson. "Not what (Lucas) had to go through."
Anderson is referring to one of his players, Lucas Runyon.
Anderson's known Lucas for six years. The last three years have been a struggle for the entire Runyon family.
It began in 2020, when Lucas' mother, Angela, was pregnant. A prenatal checkup and blood work showed signs Angela had preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome.
Lucas' baby brother, Elliott, was induced six weeks early.
Angela's condition took a turn for the worse when her kidneys stopped working.
"I was scared," Ray Runyon, Angela's husband and Lucas' dad, said.
"The medical staff was doing everything it could. It was really kind of a mystery as to what was going on.
While Elliott was in the NICU, Angela started dialysis treatment. This toll on her body lasted three months. Later that summer, Angela's kidneys improved enough for doctors to take her off a transplant list. Unfortunately, her body would suffer another health emergency when she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. She started chemotherapy immediately.
"It was unbelievable, to be honest with you," Ray Runyon said, "(but) she's strong, she's resilient, she's persistent, she's tough."
"We were going to get back to normal and try to put it in the rearview mirror," Lucas said. "Cancer is one thing you can't put back in the rearview mirror."
As Angela kept getting treatment, Lucas found refuge in playing baseball. His Canyon View Little League teammates showed their support in big and small ways, including sometimes wearing pink shoelaces. "They rallied around him," Anderson said. "They understood what he was going through, and they helped him get through it."
"It provided a great place for him to come and do something he really likes," dad Ray said.
Fast forward to the present day: Elliott is a healthy 3-year-old boy and Angela is in remission. "I'm doing great," she said. "After games, Elliott always wants to give all the players a high-five and a hug."
Lucas played a key role in helping Canyon View win the District 5 Little League Majors' Title. "He's got great mechanics and a great attitude," Anderson said.
The team will soon head off to compete in the state tournament in Flagstaff. "We're one step closer to the Little League World Series," Lucas said.
"We are back to living a full-energy life with a full family of three wonderful kids," Ray said, "and baseball. Lots of baseball."
