On Friday, for Dayton’s first game at the arena since that season, they were back in the same seats. However, much has changed for the family in the last two years.
In 2015, when they attended the game, Jack was battling cancer. He was diagnosed with a Wilms' tumor, a rare type of childhood kidney cancer, in December 2014. He had a 2½-pound tumor removed five days after the diagnosis at VCU's Children Hospital. He underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
KPMG donated the front-row seats the Morleys in 2015 for Jack’s seventh birthday. The Morleys had conflicted feelings about who to root for that day and ever since because they are UD fans but credit VCU with saving Jack’s life.
Two years later, the news is all good. Here’s an update from Jeff: “Jack has a 3-month checkup this week, which will mark 21 months cancer free. He’ll be followed for five years with regular three- to sixth-month checkups. He is an energetic 8-year-old third grader and has gained back a lot of weight and strength (not to mention hair) since that photo years ago. He’s enjoying playing basketball in a youth league in Richmond right now and loves following our Dayton Flyers and Cleveland Cavaliers. (Keeps an eye on VCU, too). He’s also a fan of beating his dad and sister in some driveway games of horse.”
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