Earlier this year, Tashena McIntosh got to do something most kids wish for. It was her wish, too, and it came true.
McIntosh got to meet and hang out with players from her favorite team, the Denver Nuggets, in November. The story is the No. 4 story on the Cañon City Daily Record’s list of top sports stories of 2013.
The Cañon City High School junior was referred to Make-A-Wish Colorado after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma — which she beat earlier this year.
McIntosh said last week that getting to meet her favorite player, Danilo Gallinari, was the best part about her trip.
“I’m still really pumped about it,” McIntosh said last week. “… I framed my Gallinari jersey that he signed, and I put up the poster that he signed.”
Not only did she get to watch the game courtside, McIntosh, her father, Tom, and mother, Billie, were put up in a downtown Denver hotel for two nights, and ate at some Denver hotspots, including Hard Rock Cafe, for free. She visited with the Nuggets at their practice facility and attended their warm-ups before their 6 p.m. game against Minnesota that was televised on ESPN.
McIntosh is in remission since May. She still has scans once every three months and likely will have them for the rest of her life.
The CCHS junior competes in softball and basketball for the Tigers. Even while battling cancer, she made sure to compete in sports to help her keep her life as normal as possible. Once last season, she played in a basketball game after having a chemotherapy session earlier that day.
Top 10 Sports Stories of 2013
No. 10: Florence beats Cañon City softball in Bat Game
No. 9: Cañon City baseball wins crazy district championship
No. 8: Royal Gorge Fire forces cancellation of 21st annual Bubba’s Bash tournament
No. 7: Cañon City High School to switch leagues
No. 6: Cañon City Tigers girls basketball team misses playoffs
No. 5: Huskies first-year coach Jeremy Nix keeps football team on track
No. 4: Tashena McIntosh meets Denver Nuggets thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation
No. 3: Monday
No. 2: Tuesday
No. 1: Wednesday
