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UCLA football's newest recruit: A 9-year-old battling a brain tumor
UCLA football signed Cade Spinello to its team Saturday. The 9-year-old has battled a brain tumor, massive stroke and is legally blind.
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TEAM SUPERCADE via Facebook
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UCLA's football team signed a little known athlete but one who's a big-time team player this weekend: Cade Spinello. After practicing with UCLA's team and scoring a touchdown last September, the 9-year-old who has battled a brain tumor proved himself to be a five-star recruit, according to the team's coaches.
Cade has found comfort in football, and his supporters issued a thank you on social media for everyone who has helped Cade feel like a star by making this show of support from the team possible.
UCLA Football's Director of Player Personnel Patrick Girardi tweeted photos confirming the young player's commitment to the team:
The school even had him sign a letter of intent on Saturday. It states that since the coaches saw Cade run through the UCLA defense to score a touchdown in September, they "realized [he] is the missing piece on the UCLA football team."
Cade's brain tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma, was first discovered more than five years ago during a routine eye exam, ABC7 reported. He also suffered a stroke and is legally blind.
Scout.com created a player profile for Cade,and reported on the team signing Spinello. The profile says the young man has deep ties with the Bruins' program — he's even named after a UCLA quarterback.
Sponsored message
To get updates on Cade's story, check out Team SuperCade on Facebook, or watch this video about his medical journey:
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