SPOKANE, Wash --- Austin Rehkow is battling for a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster while his 11-year-old brother is battling cancer.
Austin might not stand out to the people at training camp, but he stands out to his brother Cameron, who was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2016.
Cameron has T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive type of leukemia that progresses quickly. It results in a lack of normal white blood cells, according to the Mayo Clinic, leaving those who have it prone to more frequent and severe infections, excessive weakness and shortness of breath, among other symptoms.
Cameron had to miss all of his older brother’s games during Austin’s senior year at the University of Idaho because of his fight with the disease.
Cameron finally got a chance to see Austin kick in a preseason game for the Buffalo Bills. Austin had promised that when he made it to the NFL he would get Cameron tickets to see him play, and that is just what he did.
On August 10, Cameron was at New Era Field to watch his older brother. Cameron was not disappointed either, he got to watch Austin nail an extra point on his first attempt in the pros.
Here is the video of the kick.
One of the proudest and craziest moments I've ever had. That's my brother👇@rehkow5 pic.twitter.com/4pFg8O82NA
— Ryan Rehkow (@r_rehkow24) August 11, 2017
The most excited person to step on the field in Buffalo had to be @Bear_Hoops. Congrats to @rehkow5 and his family on a special night! pic.twitter.com/vj38m3hDGV
— Evan Closky (@KREMEvan) August 11, 2017
We hope that he gets to watch his brother kick for years to come.
Just a quick follow-up on @Bear_Hoops stepping on the field in Buffalo with his big brother, @rehkow5. pic.twitter.com/pySr6bdiFD
— Evan Closky (@KREMEvan) August 12, 2017