Owen Brady’s cancer diagnosis didn’t stop him from playing high-level hockey

Owen Brady has been skating for the reason that age of 4. As a powerful defenceman with a singular capacity to command the ice, by late 2018, he was a high hockey prospect for the OHL.

“It was just about what he did. He went to highschool and he performed hockey. That was it,” says his mother, Deirdre Brady.

However by November of that very same 12 months, his promising profession was blindsided by a most cancers prognosis – osteosarcoma, the identical most cancers that took Terry Fox’s leg – and life – 40 years earlier.

Owen would require a 19-hour bone harvesting surgical procedure at Sick Children Hospital in Toronto in hopes of saving his leg.

“I simply keep in mind considering, his beautiful robust athletic legs, you’ll be able to’t try this to him,” says Deirdre.

Owen nonetheless remembers the darkness he skilled throughout his restoration.

“I used to be unsure if I wished to do it, if I wished to be alive anymore after the surgical procedure, which is a bizarre feeling as an adolescent or as a young person. That was form of my foremost feeling, and it’s a sense I do keep in mind fairly strongly,” he says.

Owen’s leg was saved – and with true grit, a relentless spirit, and an unparalleled work ethic, he turned a nook. Owen’s dedication to achieve a seemingly not possible purpose, to play aggressive hockey once more, saved him motivated as he underwent most cancers therapy.

By September 2021, barely greater than two years after being advised he may by no means stroll once more, Owen was cancer-free and enjoying Tier two Junior A Hockey.

His resilience has been inspiring to those that know him.

“I’ve by no means seen it. It’s the psychological toughness that might break youngsters, and he didn’t break” says Ashlea Jones, Owen’s very long time coach.

Owen stays true to his hockey dream as he pushes by means of the frustration of relearning his outdated expertise.

“I’m nonetheless coming again. I’ve solely performed 20 or so video games which isn’t very many within the grand scheme of issues. I’m nonetheless studying what participant I’m now and what I’m able to. I believe I’m able to a number of issues.”

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