Countless people across the United States consider themselves die-hard Duke basketball fans, but few can measure up to West Virginia teenager Bradee Vance. Earlier this year, Vance experienced a one-of-a-kind Blue Devils journey to commemorate that fandom.
ESPN released a feature on Tuesday about Vance, a high schooler who was diagnosed with Alport syndrome at age 13. The disease, which attacks blood vessels in the kidney, required a transplant back in 2022. His aunt provided one of her kidneys for the replacement.
After the successful operation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation took Vance and his family to see the Blue Devils play North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium earlier this spring. Vance and his family got to walk onto the court and sit in the team meeting rooms the night before the rivalry game, and head coach [autotag]Jon Scheyer[/autotag] embraced Vance and talked with him.
During a meeting with the team, senior captain Jeremy Roach presented Vance with a custom-made Blue Devils jersey bearing his last name.
He and his family also spent some time with five-time national champion [autotag]Mike Krzyzewski[/autotag] during the day of the game.
Duke fans can watch the full feature down below, an incredibly well-made tribute to his family and their journey.
Bradee Vance is a devoted Duke basketball fan who needed an emergency kidney transplant after being diagnosed with Alport syndrome.
Now, Bradee has recovered and had his wish come true as he got to cheer on his Blue Devils in person against North Carolina last season. pic.twitter.com/2F2Tf4va3R
— ESPN (@espn) July 16, 2024
