Super Bowl player takes time to offer encouragement to Monroe boy battling leukemia

Brandon Graham has been busy the past few weeks.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end is preparing to play in the Super Bowl for the second time in his 13-year, NFL career.

That created a lot of demands on his time.

But Graham also is a nominee the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the league's award for humanitarianism and community service.

That tells you what kind of person he is.

When Graham heard about a little boy battling leukemia, he was not going to say no – even during one of the busiest weeks of his life.

Graham recently took a few minutes to record an encouragement video for 4-year-old Charley Myers of Monroe.

“I was not an Eagles fan before,” said Chad Myers, Charley’s father. “Honestly, our family is all Lions fans, through and through. …  But after this I’ve been rooting hard for the Eagles.”

The entire Myers’ family – parents Chad and Alissa, daughters Molly, 11, and Lilly 8, and Charley – will be decked out in Eagles gear and cheering for Philadelphia against Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona this evening.

The video was born out of Chad Myers’ connections from his high school days. He is a 2002 graduate of St. Mary Catholic Central, and one of his classmates there was Spencer LaVoy, who went to Dundee schools until high school.

LaVoy became friends with Ted Rath during his days in Dundee. Rath now is the vice president of player performance for the Eagles. The former Dundee High School and University of Toledo football player is in charge of strength and conditioning activities.

“Spencer knows that Charley is a big Michigan fan,” Chad Myers said. “He reached out to Ted first, and Ted asked Brandon Graham to make the video since he went to Michigan.”

Here is what Graham says to Charley in the video:

"What’s up? What’s up?

"Hey, I hear that you’re going through lot right now. We just wanted to send some love your way.

"My mom actually had leukemia herself as a kid about your age. You know, it’s a fight, but it’s something that you’re going to definitely get through.

"We just wanted to spread the love and let you know that you are thought about and we a going to go out there and keep fighting for you and get this Super Bowl for you.

"And after you get out of all of your chemo and all that, we are going to party together. I am going to make sure I check in on you through Ted. I hope you have a great one.

"Go Birds, baby! E-A-G-L-E-S! Eagles! And Go Blue, baby, all day!"

The Myers family was touched by the gesture.

“We really appreciated it,” Chad said. “Charley really got a kick out of it. He was all pumped up. He was wearing his Eagles T-shirt for the last game. He’s going to be rooting for him in the Super Bowl. The whole family supports the Eagles.”

Chad Myers admits that Charley probably had never heard of Graham before the video, but says the player now has a new No. 1 fan.

“It was him being a Michigan guy and the phenomenal human being that he is,” Chad said. “He took time out of his day and for a minute and a half did something for a kid.”

But Graham did not anticipate something he said in the video causing trouble in a 4-year-old mind.

“Charley asked me, ‘Why did Brandon say he is going to fight? Who is he going to fight?’” Chad said. “He took him literally. He didn’t understand the whole fighting thing.”

But Charley understands fighting for his life.

He has been going through a variety of treatments since being diagnosed with leukemia last fall.

“He’s doing really well,” Chad said. “He’s in and out of treatment right now. He goes in on Tuesdays for 24 hours straight of chemo, then they spend the next two or three days flushing it out of him.

“He has two to four more weeks of that. But his spirits are good, and his appetite is good. If you saw him, you would not know he is going through anything.”

The family has been overwhelmed by the kindness of friends, neighbors and even strangers. Several local sports teams have held fundraisers for Charley and donations of money and gift cards keep coming in.

And Graham isn’t the only athlete to take time for Charley. Backup University of Michigan quarterback Davis Warren reached out to the family and talked by video call with Charley.

“He went through leukemia during high school,” Chad said.

Every gesture large and small is appreciated.

“People have been so nice and kind in general,” Chad said. “Once or twice a day, I’ll have someone come up and ask me how he is doing and tell me they are praying for him.”

More online

Go to www.monroenews.com to see Brandon Graham's encouragement video for Monroe's Charley Myers.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Super Bowl player takes time for Monroe boy battling leukemia