Dec 4, 2014 4 min read

Observer-Reporter Dec. 2, 2013, and sat at my desk. It was much like any Monday besides the fact I was still learning on the job while covering South Fayette’s run in the state football playoffs and preparing for basketball season to begin that Friday night.

My first taste of Washington County basketball would come at Canon-McMillan’s tip-off tournament that same night. The rosters were laid out on my desk, and I prepared to gather notes on the four teams when the O-R’s sports editor, Chris Dugan, alerted me a player for Canon-McMillan was diagnosed with cancer.

The students were going to pay tribute to the player that night. That junior basketball player was Luke Blanock.

I met Luke two weeks later when I arrived at his family’s home in Cecil Township. His mother, Jan, greeted me at the front door and led me downstairs to meet her 16-year-old son.

Luke was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma a year ago today, and he spent that day like he spent many over the next 12 months – in a hospital room undergoing a battery tests. Luke was facing the horrific reality of long and draining rounds of treatment, but he was upbeat and, despite the somber nature of the interview, Luke was funny and light-hearted. Even when he was describing his agonizing symptoms prior to the mass being removed from his back, Luke was smiling.

After speaking to Canon-McMillan head coach Rick Bell and Luke’s best friend, Alex Hammers, a few days earlier; I wasn’t surprised by Luke’s demeanor and determination. He was ready to fight. The consensus from Bell and Hammers was Blanock is one of the strongest-willed kids you will ever meet and the diagnosis won’t change that.

The description was spot on.

At the conclusion of our interview, Luke told me doctors informed him sports may be in the past. His response is unforgettable: “Tell me I might not be ble to play sports when chemo is done? We’ll see about that, Doc. I’ll see ya’ll next winter when I’m playing basketball.”

Since that cold night in December when I first met Luke, I have spoken to him on several occasions at basketball and baseball games. He attended every game that did not interfere with treatment and if he felt well enough. Although the chemotherapy and radiation treatments took a physical toll, his outlook remained the same – he was going to beat it.

The updates started arriving from Luke’s father, Kurt, during the summer. Luke began playing basketball again in the Brownson House summer league. He was progressing each day, and doctors were optimistic his treatments would end ahead of schedule.

There were a few obstacles along the way, but when August rolled around, Luke was ready to return to school for his senior year. Last week, I received a phone call from Bell telling me Luke would be playing basketball this season. I was floored.

No one knows the mental anguish Luke went through these past 12 months. On the exterior, you would never guess he was dealing with an illness most adults would struggle to comprehend. With the help and support of his family, friends, teammates, doctors, nurses and the community of Canonsburg, Luke Blanock beat cancer.

He will play tonight in the Big Macs’ season opener against Burgettstown at Canon-Mac. It will be the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis and I will be there. I couldn’t miss it.

The 16-year-old boy who inspired many is back to playing basketball and enjoying life as a teenager.

Luke Blanock is back to playing basketball and is healthy. Our corner of Western Pennsylvania feels a little better, and the celebratory reception at tonight’s game will reflect that.

Lance Lysowski can be reached at llysowski@observer-reporter.com