With the Green Monster rising behind him, 12-year-old William stepped onto the mound at Fenway Park. He carried a baseball in his hand and hope in his heart.

Months ago, when doctors found a tumor growing around his heart, this moment seemed out of reach. Last October, William was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma. He began weekly chemotherapy treatments and underwent surgery to remove his spleen.

Doctors Refer William for a Wish

William's team of doctors did not simply treat him physically – they also treated William's emotional well-being by referring him to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After months of worrying about his treatments, William's mind turned to a hopeful new topic: what would his fondest wish be?

William, his twin sister and his older brother spent days imagining options for his wish. Finally, the sports-loving boy declared his choice: He wished to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park!

On the day of his wish, William arrived at the park wearing his beloved Sox cap and a crisp new jersey. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Red Sox created a full day of magic, including a tour of the park and the chance to meet manager Terry Francona and ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzuka, aka "Dice-K."

Pitching Tumor into the Past

Aside from his undying love for the Red Sox, this wish was meaningful to William for a symbolic reason: when doctors found the tumor around his heart, it was roughly the size of a baseball. When William threw the first pitch and the baseball left his hand, he would also leave a year of sickness and struggle behind him.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I could have fun with and take my whole family on,” William told The Boston Herald. “Also, the mass in my chest was kind of like a baseball.”

When William stepped onto the mound, he was greeted by a familiar face who would serve as his catcher: famed Sox slugger David Ortiz. With 30,000 fans cheering him on, William threw a strike to Ortiz and raised his arms in victory. After a year of taking a stand against cancer, he stood as tall as a Red Sox legend.