An 11-year-old Atlanta Braves fan who captured hearts across Georgia and beyond is now cancer-free.
Branson Blevins, who was battling an aggressive form of leukemia, is officially in remission after a last-chance stem cell treatment in Rome, Italy. His latest bone marrow biopsy shows no signs of disease — a result his family had prayed, cried and fought for.
While their family was overseas, Branson’s mom, Nichole, even donated her own stem cells in the hope of saving her son’s life.
Earlier this summer, 11Alive’s Kaitlyn Ross shared Branson’s story. Learning that he was a huge Braves fan, Kaitlyn put out a call to her followers, searching for someone to connect them with the team.
After hearing his story, the MLB team sent Branson a care package all the way to Italy, including an Austin Riley signed jersey and bat, a Chris Sale signed jersey, and a signed Ronald Acuña Jr. bat.
“We are completely speechless,” Nichole said. “This isn’t just baseball gear. It’s fuel for a little boy who is fighting with every ounce of strength he has left.”
The package also included a custom glove with his nickname, “Hollywood 27,” and a handwritten note from the Pace family, who, along with Better Baseball, helped make the surprise happen.
The extra lift arrived during some of Branson’s darkest days. Through every setback, every hospital stay, and every mile between Georgia and Italy, Branson never gave up. And neither did the people who love him.
There’s still a road ahead as Branson continues to heal, but today, his family is celebrating a miracle.
