A 19-YEAR-OLD battling cancer has received national attention this week after being the centre of a heartwarming gesture from Wests Tigers star Kevin Naiqama.
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In a moving video shared by national media departments including the NRL, Wests Tigers and Yahoo7, Naiqama was captured putting a smile on former Red Bend student Danielle Mason’s face after a victorious win against Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
Hundreds then took to social media to admire Naiqama’s touching gesture and send positive words to the young Forbes woman who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
“There were so many positive people saying things. I didn’t expect everyone to be so kind,” Danielle said.
Days before, the Fijian international spent two hours with Danielle and her family at Westmead Hospital, gifting her with a signed jersey and eight tickets to the Tigers game that weekend.
“I told her I would come and see her after the game, and the least I could do was give her my jersey and give her a hug,” Naiqama told Wests Tigers Media on Sunday. “She’s pretty much stuck in her room 24/7 and she hasn’t been home since January — her and the family have just been doing it really tough.”
“She got a day pass out of hospital which worked out great — her antibiotics happened to be really good today which was the only way she was allowed out of the hospital.”
A friend had reached out to Naiqama on Facebook asking if he could visit Danielle in hospital.
“They told me she had cancer and that I was one of her favourite players.”
Danielle took to Facebook to share her experience meeting Naiqama.
“Forever my hero and inspiration. I will forever cherish our time we have spent together and your gifts to me through this rough patch in life, I truly am blessed,” she wrote.
Naiqama’s qualities are what Danielle admires in the 28-year-old winger. “He’s an incredible person. I just feel he is a genuine bloke, so down to earth and always making time for charities and volunteering his time outside of footy. He is not someone who drags the camera around to get attention,” Danielle said.
“He told me ‘No matter how hard the fight gets, always stay positive and keep your head up.’”
