Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.
As Joseph Cecil got ready to leave for an NXT live event last Thursday in Kentucky, his girlfriend urged him to make a sign celebrating a milestone in his battle with brain cancer. Little did Joseph know that sign would end up giving him more fuel in his fight to live.
Joseph isn't one to seek attention, but whether he wants it or not, attention has been coming his way over the last few months. He often walks around with a treatment device that requires wires to run from his head to a machine in a backpack. He's grown used to stares and questions.
On this night, however, he was cheering ringside as Velveteen Dream approached him. Within moments, The Dream took his sign and began marching it around the ring as he stood on the apron holding it high. He pointed back at Joseph.
The sign read "His Birthday + One Year Cancer Free @ NXT."
"I can't even describe the emotions of seeing him honor me in that way," Joseph told The Sheet.
That was far from the end of the support he'd receive that night though. A half dozen wrestlers, including Aleister Black, stopped by to autograph his sign. He also got a hug from Kassius Ohno, and Shayna Baszler -- who wasn't about to break her heel persona it front of other fans -- quietly whispered to him saying "my sister's battling cancer right now. I'm with you."
It was a celebration -- a much needed break from reality for Joseph.
While he's been cancer free for one year, his battle is far from over.
Joseph was diagnosed last April with Grade 4 Glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer. He had surgery to remove most of the tumor but small amounts remain in his brain. For that reason, he'll never truly beat brain cancer. He'll always face the threat of cancer returning.
He still undergoes chemo treatments monthly. He wears an electronic device aimed at keeping the tumor at bay. Every three months, Joseph gets an MRI to confirm the tumor hasn't grown. His next appointment is later this month.
During recovery, he regularly watched PPVs on the WWE Network. It was an escape from his new way of life. And when wrestling came to town, Joseph did everything possible to ensure he was there.
"Those events help give you something to look forward to, something to fight towards -- if that makes sense," he said. "Among other things, it gives you a reason to fight to make it to that date."
Joseph knows long-term survival rates for his brain cancer aren't great. For that reason, it's easy for him to get lost in negative thoughts. Instead, Joseph chooses positivity.
"I made a wristband that says on one side "Defy The Stats" and on the other "Comma In Your Story" because a lot of people see cancer as the period in their life story. I see it as yet another chapter."
This night certainly served as the climax in this current chapter of Joseph's story.
He went to a show to get lost in the stories and characters of others. Instead, others were encouraged and inspired by him -- providing Joseph with even more fuel to fight.
That's another reason why wrestling is good.