The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
For Babi, every day requires courage
Samer Babi has gotten a lot of media attention the past month or so, but the North Olmsted senior has taken it all in stride.
Besides, compared to everything else Babi’s got going on, a few interviews here and there are no big deal.
“I like that people can take something away from what I tell them,” Babi said. “I think that’s kind of me contributing my little piece to the world is having people, they learn something when they listen to me.
“That’s what people have told me, you know, is ‘When I listen to you talk, I take something away from it,’ and that’s the best part of all of this.”
The ‘this’ Babi’s referring to is Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an extremely rare form of cancer that forms in the connective tissues.
The day before his junior prom, Babi received the diagnosis after unbearable pain sent him to the emergency room. An MRI revealed a mass the size of a tennis ball in his right parotid gland.
It’s a condition so rare he has yet to meet a patient with the same diagnosis.
But through it all, Babi’s uplifting spirit and relentless fight have inspired everyone who knows him, and on Jan. 17 with family, teammates and a host of doctors and nurses in attendance, he received the
Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award at the 18th annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.
“Once I got here and I saw, No. 1, I saw all these people in suits and I was like, ‘Wow, this is kind of a big deal,’” Babi said with a laugh.
“I’m meeting all these people, I’m shaking hands with very, very influential people, great people, and that’s I think when it hit me the most, when I realized how big of a deal (the award) was.”
Before his diagnosis, cancer was very much a part of Babi’s life.
On May 1, 2017, his longtime football coach, Marty Simon, died of colon cancer.
A week later, Babi got the news: stage IV RMS, but the memory of his former coach has been a constant source of strength as he undergoes chemotherapy and radiation
at an outpatient center.
“He was a big part of my football career,” Babi said of Simon. “He saw a lot of potential in me. He made sure he let me know and he let lots of other people know not to take the easy road and not to complain, not to ever ask why.”
“There are lots of days that you’re scared when you have cancer. It’s not like every day is butterflies and rainbows but, you know, you think of the good days. You think of what you’ve got on your side, you think of the people who’ve backed you up and you just think about the future. That’s what gets you through the bad days.”
Through the bad days, Babi has had a seemingly endless support system that includes his parents, siblings, friends, coaches and his girlfriend, Sydney — many of which were among
the 1,300-plus attending the award ceremony, and while many would have certainly given him a pass for it, has not complained about his circumstances, but has taken pride in inspiring others.
“Today, two of my teammates are up in the balcony. I’ve got a few of my doctors, a few of my nurses who’ve come here — one of (the nurses) even came while she’s on call, which is incredible,” Babi said. “My family, my coaches, my girlfriend especially — she’s the one who I always lean on no matter what. These are incredible people and I don’t know if I could do this so well without them.”
“I’ve always strived my entire life as a young adult to, I’d say, add weight to my words. Don’t say something that’s a waste of air. I try to speak to inspire, speak to help.”