Christian Johnico, a 25-year-old from Durant, Oklahoma, is bravely battling stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a serious type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has spread to other organs. For the past three months, Johnico has faced significant challenges, including severe physical limitations that have made simple daily tasks nearly impossible without assistance. Yet, in a remarkable twist of fate, he has found an unexpected source of hope and community among Philadelphia Eagles fans.
In late October, Johnico reached out on Reddit, hoping to connect with fellow Eagles supporters for tickets to a game. Although he has not yet heard from the team, his post has sparked an outpouring of encouragement and shared experiences from fans across the country. The Eagles subreddit responded with over 430 comments, many sharing their own cancer journeys and offering him words of support.
“I cried all day long after I got the responses to that post,” Johnico remarked in an interview with NJ Advance Media. “I had no idea that I would get so many replies. The support has truly been overwhelming.”
As he undergoes treatment, Johnico is currently on his second round of chemotherapy. The cancer has severely weakened his hip bone, making mobility a challenge. Despite these difficulties, he has cultivated a renewed sense of positivity through the encouragement of Eagles fans, many of whom have faced similar health struggles.
Their solidarity has provided Johnico with a sense of community that he had been missing. He finds inspiration in the resilience of the Eagles, particularly in the words of quarterback Jalen Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni. “Those words really resonate with me,” he stated. “I can’t fight this without my support system, and I should really lean into my team.”
Johnico watches Eagles games from his living room, often wearing jerseys of his favorite players, including Hurts, DeVonta Smith, and A.J. Brown. “Just waiting all week to watch the Eagles gives me hope,” he said, adding that friends often join him, alleviating some of his loneliness.
A lifelong fan, Johnico was introduced to the Eagles in 2005 while watching the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. Although he has never attended a game in Philadelphia, his recent Reddit post has opened new doors. An Eagles season ticket holder has offered him tickets for a future game, which Johnico believes could transform his outlook on life.
“Going to a game would change my entire life,” he expressed.
In addition to emotional support, Eagles fans have contributed to Johnico’s GoFundMe campaign, which aims to cover his medical expenses. As of now, he has raised $5,337 of his $7,500 goal. Supporters from across the United States have left messages of encouragement along with their donations, with one fan stating, “F— CANCER. You got my support from Louisiana. Much love and Go birds.”
Despite the outpouring of support, Johnico’s journey remains fraught with challenges. He has experienced nausea and fatigue from chemotherapy, and doctors have warned that these side effects could worsen during his current treatment cycle. Yet, he remains determined to fight through the pain, inspired by the tenacity of his favorite football team.
“Everyone around you doesn’t really know how it feels unless they’ve been through it,” Johnico explained. “That’s the loneliness part that gets to me sometimes.” His favorite memories as an Eagles fan include the team’s Super Bowl victory in 2017 and standout performances by players like former quarterback Carson Wentz and Malcolm Jenkins.
As he looks ahead, Johnico is optimistic that after completing his sixth treatment in February, he will be in remission and able to celebrate a successful Eagles season, ideally culminating in another Super Bowl victory.
“If you’re going through the same thing, all I can say is keep fighting,” Johnico advised. “Lean into your support system. It’s helped me a lot, and I’m sure it will help you too.”
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott recently spoke about the importance of providing hope to fans facing illnesses, stating, “Any way to take your mind off of the struggle you’re going through is what we want to do.” For Johnico, the Eagles have become not just a team to support, but a vital source of strength during one of the toughest battles of his life.
