By: Richard L. Smith
In a heartwarming ceremony at Jersey Mike’s Arena, Yadielis Gonzalez, a member of the Perth Amboy High School girls' basketball team, was honored as the "Shining Knight of The Game" during a Rutgers women’s basketball match against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
This special recognition was part of a collaboration between Rutgers Athletics and RWJBarnabas Health, aimed at lifting the spirits of patients facing significant healthcare challenges.
Seventeen-year-old Yadielis, hailing from Perth Amboy faced a formidable opponent off the court when she was diagnosed with ependymoma, a cancerous brain tumor that also affected her spinal cord, on March 7th, 2023.
This diagnosis necessitated an emergency surgery at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
Her treatment journey continued with two months of radiation therapy at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Thanks to the exceptional care from the medical team at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, along with the support of her family, Yadielis has made significant progress in her recovery, even returning to the basketball court.
During her special day at Rutgers, Yadielis had the opportunity to meet the women’s basketball head coach, Coquese Washington, and visit the team’s practice gym at the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center.
She also had the memorable experience of standing with the players during the national anthem.
The highlight of the Game Day celebration saw Yadielis joining her sister Jossie and the Rutgers Scarlet Knight Mascot on the court, with her brother Yalianis, stepdad Ismael, uncle Lewis, and mother Dee cheering from the stands.
Raising her sword in triumph, Yadielis was saluted for her bravery and strength in her fight against cancer.
In a lasting tribute, Yadielis and other "Shining Knight of the Game" honorees will be commemorated in a Rutgers Athletics facility, celebrating their unique game-day experiences and inspiring stories of courage and resilience.
This initiative not only honors these brave individuals but also highlights the powerful connection between sports, community support, and overcoming life's toughest challenges.