An emotional scene unfolded this week at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, when 11-year-old Evan Mitchell, a devoted West Virginia Mountaineers fan battling an aggressive brain tumor, received the surprise of his young life. Evan’s only wish was to hear the voice of his favorite player, Mountaineers running back Jahiem White, in what doctors feared might be one of his final days. But White didn’t just make a phone call—he walked into Evan’s hospital room, leaving the boy, his family, and the medical staff in stunned silence.
It all started when Evan’s older sister posted a heartfelt plea on social media, asking if anyone could help get a message to White. “He’s been watching Jahiem’s highlights over and over,” she wrote. “If he could just hear from him, I know it would mean the world.” Within hours, the post began circulating among Mountaineer fans, eventually reaching White’s phone. The young star, just 20 years old and fresh off a standout performance last weekend, knew exactly what he had to do.
On Tuesday morning, instead of heading straight to practice, White quietly arranged to visit the hospital. Wearing his West Virginia hoodie and carrying a signed football, he slipped past the front desk with the help of hospital staff who were in on the surprise. When Evan saw him step through the door, his eyes widened, and tears immediately rolled down his cheeks. White knelt beside his bed, took his hand, and said, “I’m here for you, buddy. You’re part of the Mountaineer family.”
The two spent nearly an hour talking. Evan asked about his favorite plays, joked about White’s blazing speed, and even got a quick lesson on holding a football like a pro. White signed Evan’s jersey and told him to keep it “as proof that you’re tougher than any defense I’ve ever faced.” For the nurses who had watched Evan endure endless treatments, it was a rare moment where the pain seemed to fade, replaced by pure joy.
The hospital room soon became crowded with teammates, who had followed White’s lead and arrived bearing gifts and smiles. They posed for pictures, played card games, and listened as Evan told stories about his dream of one day running down the field at Milan Puskar Stadium. “It’s like the whole Mountaineer team showed up just for him,” said his father, choking back tears. “You can’t put a price on what they gave us today.”
By the time White left, the story had already begun spreading online. Photos and videos of the visit went viral, with fans praising the running back not just for his talent on the field but for his compassion off it. “Jahiem White didn’t just make a fan’s wish come true,” one commenter wrote. “He gave a little boy the strength to keep fighting.” Others have called for West Virginia University to recognize White for his act of kindness, describing him as “a real-life superhero in cleats.”
For Evan, the visit has become a treasured memory. Though his prognosis remains uncertain, his family says the experience has lifted his spirits in ways medicine cannot. “He hasn’t stopped smiling,” his mother said. “He keeps saying, ‘I can’t believe Jahiem came to see me.’ That’s something he’ll carry in his heart forever.” And for Jahiem White, the moment was just as impactful. “Football’s important,” he said afterward, “but days like this remind you why you play—and who you’re really playing for.”
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