“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” 

–Albert Schweitzer

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JACK

What a weekend for this brave little boy.

He’s only 7.  He’s had countless surgeries on top of years of chemotherapy and traveling for treatment and tests to defeat pediatric brain cancer.  He’s only 7.

When I saw his touchdown run Saturday.. Jack Hoffman, running down the field at Memorial Stadium in front of 60,000 emotional, screaming fans.. I bawled.

Seen it yet? If you haven’t (and you’re one of the few people in the country!) click here.. it’s an absolute MUST.

Why is this story, this video, so inspiring?

Because simple acts of kindness.. by former Husker Rex Burkhead extending friendship to Jack.. by the team ‘adopting’ the Hoffman family and their cause to fight pediatric brain cancer.. by Coach Bo Pelini and the Nebraska coaching staff making this moment possible Saturday.. made this little boy feel glorious.  They helped Jack forget about surgeries and needles and cancer.  They made this little boy, only 7, SO HAPPY.  And who is more deserving, after all he’s been through at just 7 years old, than Jack Hoffman.

A quick note.. Jack’s fight isn’t over.  His tumor is still there, even though it has shrunk substantially since it was first discovered in 2011.  Jack will still face chemo for several more months.

So many kids lose their battle to this horrible disease.  Too many.  That’s what #TeamJack is fighting, and the Hoffman family hopes long after Jack’s highlight stops running on Sportscenter you’ll remember their cause.  There are ways you can help listed in Jack’s story posted above, and you can learn more here in a story I shared after talking to Jack and his dad, Andy, last May.

There are so many things in the world that pull us down, make us doubt everything we know and everyone around us.  This was one of those moments that brought everyone together and simply put, made everyone smile.

Way to go, Jack.