Eight years ago, Sam Cunningham’s world turned upside down. As a child, he was diagnosed with leukemia, a word no kid should ever have to hear. The years that followed were filled with hospital rooms, chemotherapy, and long nights wondering what the future would hold.
When the cancer returned in high school, many might have lost hope. But not Sam. He fought again — harder this time — carrying with him an unshakable dream: to one day be part of the Auburn Tigers basketball family.
During one of his hospital visits, Auburn’s head coach Bruce Pearl came to meet him. Between smiles and encouragement, Sam shared his dream of becoming a student manager for the team someday.
Coach Pearl didn’t just nod and move on — he pulled out a pen, wrote down his personal phone number, and said the words Sam never forgot:
“Sam, just call me.”
Years passed. Sam grew stronger, finished treatments, and eventually made that call.
And true to his word, Coach Pearl answered. Not only that — he welcomed Sam onto the Auburn basketball team as a student manager, giving him the chance to live the dream he had once clung to from a hospital bed.
Today, Sam walks into Auburn’s arena not as a patient, but as a symbol of perseverance, faith, and the power of promises kept. His story reminds everyone that some dreams survive even the hardest battles — and sometimes, they come true because someone believed enough to keep their word.
“He told me to call him,” Sam said, smiling. “And he meant it.”