TYLER (KYTX) - In less than an hour, a Smith County boy battling for his life will have a once in a lifetime opportunity. CBS 19's Amanda Roberson has more on the nine year old's story.
Collin Boyd of Tyler was diagnosed with undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma in April. Collin said he noticed swelling around his stomach after a baseball game and told his mom he needed to drink more water. What this nine year old found out was he'd need a lot more than water to heal what was growing in his little body.
"It's a tumor in my lower right abdomen," Collin explained. It's hard to imagine the nine year olds smile surrounded by freckles comes after 25 rounds of radiation, and four rounds of chemotherapy. "Nurse comes in and accesses my port and I get fluids first, two hours of fluids, and then I get chemo. It makes me tired and sort of sick to my stomach."
Collin and his family stay in the road a few days each week, getting treated at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
"Nervous at first," Collin said. "But then I know what it's like so I'm not scared or nervous anymore."
This brave little boy said he's leaving his cancer behind Friday night. "Carter Blood Center, they pick somebody every year to throw the first pitch and this year they picked me."
"He's very excited," Collin's dad, Jimmy Boyd added. "He's been outside every day practicing to be able to make it to home plate."
"It's about five feet back from what I'm used to throwing," said Collin.
It's Carter BloodCare night at the ballpark and Jimmy said he hopes it raises more awareness for people to donate blood. "Collin did have to have his first blood transfusion last Friday night at the end of his chemo treatment so it's donations like that that make this important."
Jimmy said Collin's been keeping his eye on the ball through it all, looking forward to the special pitch. "Not have to worry about when he's going back for the scans or chemo treatment so help takes his mind off of it and keep his mind focused on something else."
As Collin and 87 of his friends and supporters take off for Arlington, he said he has one big reason for such a huge grin. "I'm excited about throwing out the first pitch tonight!"
Collin throws the first pitch at 7:05pm. He's been playing baseball since he was four and said the Rangers, especially Josh Hamilton, are his favorite and he hopes to see them tonight.
Collin is completely finished with his radiation. He has PET and CAT scans Tuesday and those results will determine whether his tumor can be removed later in the month.
Even though Collin's summer may be cut short by trips to Dallas, he's got a lot more fun ahead of him. Collin is signed up to spend a week at Sky Ranch and attend another camp in Dallas.
