9-year-old cancer survivor announces Mariners' 1st-round pick
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SEATTLE -- Tiago Viernes walked across the MLB Draft stage on Sunday evening to announce the Mariners¡¯ first-round selection, Colt Emerson, and maybe the 9-year-old will be back here in another decade or so hearing his own name called.
Viernes was invited by the Mariners to take center stage ahead of the organization¡¯s most monumental Draft in recent memory, in huge part, because his story is so inspiring.
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Viernes overcame life-threatening Stage 4 neuroblastoma when he was just 2 years old. His family relocated from Wapato, Wash., about two-and-a-half hours from T-Mobile Park, so that he could get treatment from Seattle Children¡¯s Hospital.
According to SCH, Viernes¡¯ body was filled with cancer cells, and he was near death before 18 months of intense treatment that included chemotherapy, surgery, two stem-cell transplants, radiation treatment and immunotherapy. Now, he not only has been cancer free for the past six years, but he¡¯s an active participant in an array of youth sports -- including baseball.
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In February, Viernes received the Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Youth Award presented by Seattle Children¡¯s, an award that was presented by Ken Griffey Jr. At last year¡¯s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, Julio Rodr¨ªguez wrote Viernes¡¯ name on a Stand Up To Cancer card as he was introduced. And earlier this season, Viernes threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a Mariners game.
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