There isn't much light at the end of the tunnel when you're a 13-year-old cricket fan staring down the barrel of nine rounds of chemotherapy and five weeks of daily radiotherapy, with no cricket to play or watch on TV for the foreseeable.
That was Leighton Little's situation after being diagnosed with testicular cancer on Boxing Day 2019.
But as he started a gruelling schedule of pretty aggressive treatment, the good luck messages started to come in.
The first was from his local county side Sussex, which includes England's World Cup hero Jofra Archer: "I want you to be brave and when it's all done and you come out of the other side of this I will personally give you some memorabilia so that should be some motivation."
England Test Captain Joe Root said: "Thinking about you very much.
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"I know you are a big cricket fan and I know there isn't much cricket to watch at the minute but hopefully in the next couple of months we can see some cricket back on the telly and something to raise your spirits.
"But just wanted to send you a message that I hope you are feeling a lot better very quickly and very much supporting you and behind you and can't wait to see you back playing and watching the game we all love."
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Former England captain Sir Alistair Cook said: "Heard you're having some treatment. Hope everything goes really well. Stay strong, keep fighting. We're all thinking of you. Lots of love."
No one was more surprised by the support than Leighton: "I was surprised as it started so small and just grew. I was amazed.
"It did take my mind off my treatment actually… it leaves you really tired and I've been sick a lot. There's a lot of sickness involved. It did get my hopes up.
"My favourite is Jonny Bairstow because he's a wicket keeper and I'm a wicket keeper, so it makes sense."
The England star said: "I just wanteRead More – Source
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