Saints’ Derek Carr sends special message to 5-year-old Reedley boy battling cancer
Maddix Anderson is a big Derek Carr fan.
It doesn’t matter to him that Carr is no longer the quarterback for his beloved Raiders.
The 5-year-old from Reedley who’s battling cancer received an uplifting and inspiring message from the New Orleans Saints quarterback this week.
“Maddix, what’s up? Just headed home right now,” Carr said in a video posted Wednesday. “We just got done with practice. I just want to send you a video, man, to tell you, man, to get better. Praying for you. Just believe in what’s best for you and just want to encourage you with this video. Appreciate you. Keep fighting, keep going. You have people in your corner.”
Anderson was recently diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a cancer that affects children 5 and younger.
Anderson’s mother, Paige Holt, said the family initially thought Maddix was dealing with growing pains because his hips and legs were hurting. They took him to a chiropractor and had an X-Ray done that ended up showing a hip fracture.
But a visit to Valley Children’s Healthcare left Anderson’s family with shocking news from the doctor: Tests revealed Maddix has cancer.
“Definitely took us by surprise,” Holt said. “We just literally thought he had a broken bone.
“I’m in a bad dream. I honestly believe I’m a little delusional and shocked that this is all actually happening. We’re taking it one day at a time.”
Holt said Maddix started playing football in May. He also enjoys BMX.
He had a five-hour surgery Tuesday in the Bay Area.
Nathan Anderson, Maddix’s father, said he received a message from Gage Bodine, who personally knows Carr.
He said Bodine told him, “I know you guys are going through a lot. I hope this helps.”
Carr obliged because Valley Children’s has always been a focal point for his family after his son, Dallas, as a newborn needed three surgeries because of an intestinal complication and stayed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for more than three weeks.
If a child needs an uplifting message, Carr is there to give it in person or virtually, as was the case this week.
It helps that Maddix is a big Carr fan.
“I was super excited when he found who he was talking to on the video,” Holt said. “I still don’t really think he understands what’s going on. When we try to tell him what’s going on, he’s not really too receptive to it. He loved the fact that Derek Carr left him that message.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family.
This story was originally published July 28, 2023 at 1:35 PM.
