Jameson Taillon overwhelmed by get-well card from Pirates fans
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon recently underwent surgery for suspected testicular cancer, which unfortunately was confirmed by tests this week.
In wake of the news, the 25-year-old hurler’s spirits have remained high, and were no doubt further lifted by a get-well card he received from Pirates fans upon returning to PNC Park on Friday.
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In a video posted on Twitter, Taillon showed off the giant card signed by hundreds of fans.
A message from @JTaillon19.#Jamo50 pic.twitter.com/UIBynFVFav
— Pirates (@Pirates) May 19, 2017
On an Instagram post, Taillon wrote:
Fans, almost got me in tears over here! Thanks for all of the support and well wishes. Love every single one of you! #Kcancer
We always enjoy writing about kind gestures from players for fans. It’s equally cool writing about fans showing this level of love and support for a player.
Taillon also spoke at length about his diagnosis, surgery and his recovery.
“That’s how I view the medical stuff, too. Can’t worry about how I got here or what it is,” Taillon said. “I just have to worry about the plan going forward. It’s definitely made me a lot more mentally tough.
“Going through trials and tribulations and tough times, with each one, I feel like I’ve come out stronger. I wasn’t going to let this stop me or get me down in the dumps.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Taillon’s mental toughness was never in question even before the former first-round pick began his cancer battle. That he’s remained upbeat and refused to let the situation get him down only reiterated what Hurdle already knew: “He’s special.”
Being positive is one part of the battle. Being aware and informed is another. Since his surgery, Taillon has been in contact with Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer last fall, and former minor league teammate Andrew Lambo.
He also says he’s heard from cancer survivors Lance Armstrong and John Kruk, who shared experiences from their respective battles. Taillon specifically noted Kruk’s advice to take his time coming back from the surgery.
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With that in mind, Taillon says he’s focused now on his recovery, and on staying on top of his health.
“I’m feeling good now, feeling healthy. We’re getting all good news back so far,” Taillon said on Friday. “Going forward, it’ll be something I have to monitor and stay on top of, something I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.”
If there’s one thing we can all take away from Taillon’s story, it’s the importance of monitoring our own health. Taillon wasted no time getting checked after feeling something unusual, and that early detection has given him a much better outlook.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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