Read It And Weep (Anthony Rizzo)

Thirty Five~ What A Man

Hannah

Today was what we all hope is Manny's last chemo treatment. His body has accepted the drugs as best as it can and should this session end well he was free from this cancer. His cells were close to being in remission and this was almost over. We just have to get past the last speed bump and he was home free.

And if this really is the end I want to be there for him. So I decided to join him in his last chemotherapy session. Anthony was here too as we support Manny and be with him in hopefully what is the end of a chapter in his life.

"Would you guys mind if I wrote about this" I ask the both of them. "I know you didn't want this to be a big deal and have to do this with so many people asking you questions and being in your face, but now that it's almost over I would really like to write about what happened in the past few months" I explain.

"I wouldn't mind" Manny assures me.

"Just try not to talk shit about me again" Anthony teases as I roll my eyes.

"I have written so many nice things about you since that" I whine.

"I know I know, but it's literally the only thing I can hold over your head" he accuses.

"That you know of" I defend.

"You could do a lot of things I would still think you're amazing" he claims.

I send him a playful glare as he smiles at me. "Can you guys not flirt when I'm getting treatment? I'm already nauseous as is" Manny claims as I show him my favorite finger making him laugh.

"I'm gonna leave you two alone so you can do whatever two dudes who are in love do. I'm going to start writing so I can show you what I have before I put it out there to make sure it's okay" I explain.

I go to my car and grab my laptop before getting set up in the waiting room. I pull up the website and I smile when I see how many people downloaded the app and are sharing the articles. It was even better than I hoped and now it was my turn to hold up my end of the bargain.

So I start up a new article and type "A Unwanted Friendship" at the top. I know that's a interesting choice for a headline but it was the truth. I start to type out the rest and it was natural as their friendship.

"There is not a driving force inside of Anthony Rizzo that is stronger than passion. His passion for his team that made him once try to fight the entire Cincinnati Reds team... by himself. His passion for his family that makes them closer than ever even though they're thousands of miles apart.

His passion for people who went through cancer like him helps him raise millions of dollars yearly to help pay for treatment and find cures. That passion specifically is something you don't find around the MLB or any professional sport at that. There's plenty of people making millions more than he does and who has been around charities longer than he has. But no one cares no more than he does about the kids he works for and with. He uses his platform to bring light to situations and help find solutions, something that many families who hear the word cancer are so desperately looking for.

As for the 22 year old Manny Anderson, he has things he is passionate about too. Being born and raised in Chicago he loves the city, his family, and helping people every chance he gets. When he gets older he wants to be a oncologist to help people with cancer get better and have a good life. He is passionate about lending a hand even though he doesn't often times get one lended to him.

Where their two paths meets is a little crazy. While Anthony usually works with kids with pediatric cancer, one day Manny sent him a hand written letter in the hopes Anthony will have it in his heart to help and left it at the hospital. He didn't think that Anthony would actually get the letter, and if he did he didn't think Anthony would want to help out.

But Manny was wrong. Anthony called him the day he got the letter and set up a time to meet him face to face. They hit it off and Anthony promised that he would help Manny with anything he needs, whether it be treatment or to pay for surgery or to just be there for him. Anthony felt for Manny and knew what he was going through. He knew what it was like to be old enough to know that this is about to change your life but still young enough that this can ruin it too.

What people don't know about Anthony is just how big of a heart he has. He could have just gave Manny some money and called it a day. He could call him every once in a while and moved on with his life. But this passion Anthony has for people in the position he was once in is incredible. It's powerful and it doesn't see a difference in age or type of cancer. Even though Manny is a lot older than the people he usually worked with Anthony still cared, and for that he made a unwanted friendship through some awful circumstances.

Though the situation was terrible the two got really close. Anthony joined Manny during his chemo treatments and tried to get him out to as many Cubs games as possible. They even went the length of shaving their heads together to show support and strength. They showed that love is stronger than the cancer that infects people and we can still find ourselves even after we get lost in it all.

And Anthony never said a word about it. Didn't brag to the media about how he saved Manny's life and didn't post it all over social media for clout. He silently saved this mans life by giving him a reason to keep going. Going through cancer is hard, and with Manny's parents out of the picture since he was still in diapers, support was hard to come by. Especially since he didn't tell anyone. But luckily for him he met his best friend in the worst imaginable way.

Now I know what you're thinking. "I always knew Anthony was a good guy, he has his own cancer research and treatment foundation and he helps out a lot of people. This isn't news." And in every possible way that is true. But it's more than that. It's more than I can explain.

Because Manny is my brother and he is all I have. And thanks to Anthony he is still here, still going strong. Thanks to Anthony I get to keep what little bit of my family I have. Thanks to him he helped pay for treatments so my money could go to starting up the first major sports writing business owned by a women. Words can't begin to explain what a man he is and how lucky my brother and I are to have him in our lives. As I write this they're in Manny's last chemo session ready to move on.

To what... I'm not sure. Manny has many years of school left and Anthony is a all-star player. I don't know what's in store for these two men I can't imagine my life without, all I know is that whatever it is, I hope they get to do it together."