But slowly, he started to lift. No matter what circumstances are, I am going to attack it the best I can," Hardy told 5 On Your Side's Frank Cusumano during this past WashU season. Dr. Park, however, was more optimistic, saying that Hardys overall health can be helpful in his ability to fight the cancer and withstand aggressive treatments. He worried the attention would add further pain for his family and closest friends. The college sports star was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in April 2021, according to a statement shared on his GoFundMe page. A Warner Bros. His battle with cancer was an inspiration for the team. A lot of things have stayed constant for Hardy over his three and a half years at WashU. As we grieve alongside the Hardy family, we also thank them for the gifts that Justin brought to his teammates and friends at WashU. ': Battling stage 4 stomach cancer, WashU's Justin Hardy inspires on senior night. Through cancer, Washington U. basketball player shows hes just built different. This is my life now and one day it changed forever. If theres anyone built to beat this, its Hardy.. Hardy got the news of his cancer last April. And this fall, hes fought against every odd to return to WashU beside his teammates to compete at the upper tier of Division III basketball. In April, Hardy was surrounded by his teammates when he received the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award in New Orleans. Justin Hardy, a basketball player for the St. Louis-based college, passed away early morning on May 29 after spending the last "13 months courageously redefining what it means to live with. Justin Hardy, the Washington University in St. Louis basketball forward whose courage inspired players and fans nationwide, died Sunday, May 29, 2022, of stomach cancer. The team had advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Surrounded by his family, he went through test after test, talked to doctors, and explored his options. (Family photo.) The main reason was their faith and belief God was going to heal them..and he did. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 2 min read. Hardy grew up near Chicago in the suburb of St. Charles. But doctors cleared him to play. The average age of diagnosis in stomach cancer is 68, and Justin is a 21-year-old athlete with seemingly everything going for him. Justin Hardy, the Washington University in St. Louis basketball forward whose courage inspired players and fans nationwide, died Sunday, May 29, 2022, of stomach cancer. United States. Jeff Pape. RIP JH. He has tried without success to gain acceptance for clinical trials. What Hardy is doing is playing on while he battles stage 4 stomach cancer. He passed away on May 29, 2022, when he sadly was only 22 years old. Stay strong Justin and God bless. Its not about me: thats our team motto this year, said Hardy. His distraction that day was WashU baseballs trip to the College World Series. He won the Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award from the United States Basketball Writers Association for refusing to let a terminal prognosis sidetrack his immediate plans. True inspiration, Prayers for Justins family. When ESPN journalist Gene Wojciechowski learned of Hardys remarkable season, he traveled to St. Louis to profile him for ESPNs College GameDay. The story opened with Hardy sitting at a laptop writing a letter to himself. He knows the facts but remains positive and is pretty much doing everything right.. Hes still living with his best friends and bringing out his competitiveness in games of Hearts. Now, I watch him on the court and hes back to dunking again and looks a lot like his old self. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Justin lived like he played basketball, meeting each moment with uncommon determination and hope, Martin said. We have the awesome responsibility to carry forward his legacy of relentless positivity. Justin Hardy, a 2018 St. Charles East graduate and former Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year, has gone public about his Stage IV stomach cancer diagnosis. For Justin, lets make this shot go around the world one more time. The first one I got in July, to quote the doctor was as good as Ive ever seen. But I was getting racked by the chemo. However, according to his father Bob Hardy on Twitter, Hardy had been battling cancer in recent months. The family will host a visitation from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Yurs Funeral Home in Geneva, Ill., and a legacy celebration at 1 p.m. Friday, June 3, at St. Charles East High School. In spite of the illness, he remained his teams second leading scorer as they reached the second round of the Division III NCAA tournament. From the moment he stepped foot on this campus, he has been a pillar both on and off the floor. At first it was a pretty toxic thing. I know you are a very strong minded young man and you want to live. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Theres nothing at this point that can really rattle me., A warmup shirt worn by Hardys teammates and the coaching staff. display: none !important; Sometimes you see patients who are unrealistically positive. Justin Hardy directs traffic during a recent game against New York University (Photo by Curran Neenan / Student Life). Theres a lot we can take from how hes lived, and how hes living the courage and the strength hes had throughout all of this., At the end of the day, Hardy argues that this WashU Basketball season with the team 14-3 so far isnt about the adversity hes overcome. With basketball now the center of his life, he wants that chance again. Washington University released a statement following Hardys death: Our deepest condolences go out toJustin Hardys family on his passing. Hardy epitomized selflessness and determination through 13 months of intense treatments following his diagnosis in April 2021. Hardy also was a leader in three-pointers and free throws. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum. He was just the most selfless person, always there with a text message or a gesture, checking in to make sure youre OK.. Park said his tumor is undergoing genomic testing to determine if a treatment more specific to Hardys cancer might be helpful. His team feels that theyve received ten times what theyve given him. 4-ranked team in Division III. They gave way to Hardys revelation that there was much to accomplish, even if he figured basketball was a thing of the past. Purchase tickets for WashU nights at soccer, baseball stadiums, Nominate staff members for Distinguished Honor awards, New faculty to join race, ethnicity cohort in thefall, Kwon named chair of epidemiology society committee, William A. Peck, former medical school dean,89, Garland Allen, professor emeritus of biology,86, Joseph L. Roti Roti, professor emeritus of radiation oncology,79, Cunningham, Ward share Mellon Foundation grant, Molecular activity of the immune system to get a closerlook. I remember thinking he seemed so physically weak. But he did take the court one final time during the Bears final regular season gameagainst UAA rival University of Chicago. The criminal recently said he was still able to do '95 press-ups in 30 seconds' and exercises regularly. And there wasnt going to be all the things that I loved in my life. His family doesnt doubt that hell be ready for whatever is next. No matter what was happening on the scoreboardand we had plenty of successwe felt like every day was a win because we were in it together.. Hes tolerating the treatments really well, and that allows us to give him more treatment, Dr. Park said. What a story of strength and determination. But this is a remarkable story of courage and positive thinking. Its not about any one of us, but together we can do something really special.. The only thing getting me through that day was that I had [the baseball teams] game against St. Thomas.. The Bears did earn a ticket to the NCAA tournament, but were unable to advance to the Sweet 16 after a tough 2-point loss. Justin Hardy has changed my life like six different times since the diagnosis, Nolan said. We are devastated by this loss but comforted by the manner in which he lived his life. A true inspiration. I urge you if you havent, search up his story and read it. I would definitely say this is number . Justin Hardy, a basketball player for theSt. Louis-based college, passed away early morning on May 29 after spending the last "13 months courageously redefining what it means to live with cancer," his fatherBob Hardy shared on Twitter. "After 13 months of courageously. Im baffled., Centene expects to lose millions of Medicaid customers beginning in April, Neman: Missouri womans saga of trying to find common sense at Walmart, I can still hear the roaring of the engine, says father of teen maimed in downtown St. Louis, So much for collaboration: St. Louis County Council meeting deteriorates into turmoil, Willson Contreras makes Cardinals debut, and Tyler O'Neill begins his run for center. If I want to live life, I have to choose to put my best foot forward and attack it with a positive mentality. He was 22. Having played there (1961 grad) I follow the team on line. An incredible young man. Coming back and playing basketball and finishing my degree are two things that I really wanted to do.. All things NFL players are looking for. They ran a biopsy and pathology on the mass, and after days in the hospital, Justin Hardy was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I know how well they are doing and what an important piece he is. Early rounds of chemotherapy left Hardy sapped. Hardy will complete another round of chemotherapy at the end of January and undergo further testing to determine his status. Hardy was the school's second leading scorer in the Division III NCAA tournament. In April, he was named the Most Outstanding Senior in College Basketball and delivered a heartbreaking acceptance speech. Those of us who dont personally know you are inspired and with you in prayer and spirit. According to his college coach, former St. Charles East star Justin Hardy appeared to be "unbreakable" heading into his senior season for Washington University in St. Louis. Hardy's story of perseverance in the face of Stage 4 stomach cancer inspired people all over the country. Hardys treatment days are long and usually scheduled for a Monday or Tuesday so that hes feeling well by the end of the week to play in games. Justins story has resonated with so many people at Washington University and beyond, Juckem said. She said the experience has made her think about working with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. He showed us what it means to be others focused what it means to be a great teammate. He was 22. We are devastated by this loss but comforted by the manner in which he lived his life. Published May 29, 2022 Washington U. basketball player Justin Hardy dies of cancer at 22 Sportsnaut Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Justin Hardy, who inspired teammates and opponents. Finally, he is attached to a device he takes home that pumps a treatment into his body for 24 hours. He was 22. Hardy, 22, graduated in December after just three-and-a-half yearswith a double major in accounting and finance while also playing a sport. The family was together at home after the diagnosis during the toughest days. Diane Toroian Keaggy wrote this article for The Source. RELATED: 'How can you not be moved? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Justin Hardy, BSBA 21, plays WashU basketball while fighting stage 4 stomach cancer. An official cause of death has not been announced yet. All rights reserved. He was 22. Hardy died on Sunday morning following a long battle with stomach cancer. Justin Hardy: Leaving Atlanta Rotowire Mar 16, 2020 Hardy won't re-sign with the Falcons, instead becoming an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta. This is my life now and one day it changed forever. The rest of the scans have been a progression in the opposite direction. There was a time I watched him walk upstairs a half a step at a time. The book tackles Stause's childhood and journey into Hollywood, but she knows her love life is one of the topics that readers will be most intrigued by. Hes seeing diminishing returns from the therapy, which he describes as maintenance as opposed to a cure the tumor has started to adapt, which means that now he has to start considering other options. The 6-foot-5,. ST. CHARLES, IL A former St. Charles East basketball standout who refused to let cancer stand in the way of living his life to the fullest has died. After an unproductive trip to urgent care and eventually the hospital where they told him that he was just dehydrated he returned to the hospital with worsened symptoms. In memory of recent graduate and basketball star Justin Hardy, an anonymous donor has made a pledge of $500,000 to endow the Justin Hardy Courage Fund at Washington University in St. Louis. Be the first one to comment on this story. You are an inspiration. He was 22. He is on a trip with the Bears this weekend. Lisa Salters and Jeff Van Gundy shared some of his remarkable story on the ABC telecast. Since some bad chemo experiences last spring and summer, he has endured the drugs without many side effects. Two months after Hardy couldnt reach the rim, the team played Illinois Wesleyan and Hardy took possession of the ball at the top of the key. I never got the chance to meet Justin Hardy but he and is family live in my neighborhood. The entire 2020-21 season was canceled. I dont think I can be content and accept that this is happening. She recalled his response, which might have sounded flippant to anyone else. According to The Source, Hardy lost 50 pounds after chemotherapy and thought he might not be able to play his final season. Hardy also was a leader in three-pointers and free throws. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Obituary: Justin Hardy, recent Olin graduate, Bears basketball player,22. Still, he was doggedly persistent with his conditioning program, taking his time with the exercises that would have been his warmup six months prior. His father, Bob, paid tribute to his son on Twitter and wrote: Bob asked everyone to make donations to the #HardyStrong GoFundMe that would be used for medical and memorial expenses. What a story. 4,386 Followers, 1,187 Following, 53 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Justin Hardy (@jhardy_32) Greater Chicago Area. Hes relentlessly supportive of his friends in their successes like his former roommate Caleb Durbin. Your login session has expired. I was so emotional about it all. In his own words: If you want to win, just give me the ball.'. 2023 Cable News Network. Justin lived like he played basketball, meeting each moment with uncommon determination and hope, Martin said. RIPJustin. Published His three best friends on the womens soccer team sat in silence even after he hung up, tears streaming down their faces. As a doctoral student at Washington Universitys medical school, Jackie is Justins only family member in St. Louis as he finishes his career playing basketball for the Bears. That game, that moment Ill never forget that.. Justin Hardy at his December 2021 graduation. Hardy scored a collegiate career-high 28 points in February. "I know the Moodys won't tour again," Lodge said. Fact-checking the claims on case related to St. Louis crash, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, McClellan: Too many have lost faith for Kim Gardner to continue, Fate of St. Louis Fox Theatre still undecided, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center. This is all mind over matter, Hardy typed. This is pretty rare to see in a 21-year-old. At the time, he had a port in his chest and treatment was still a biweekly battle Is that even an option? he questioned. An amazing story about Olin alum and WashU athlete Justin Hardy, BSBA '21, is making the rounds. But he defied their expectations by returning to the starting lineup; his competitiveness for the Bears was completely unprecedented. Justin Hardy also happens to have Stage 4 stomach cancer. Someone said, Positivity kills cancer. I dont feel happy with the situation, but I do with where I am in life.. Hardy is hoping Washington University gets another opportunity in the NCAA Tournament. Risk Advisory Associate at Grant Thornton. Stu Durando is the SLU beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A revitalized program an hour north of his Norman residence captivated Ryan Broyles. Nolan said Hardy struggled with the decision to go public with his diagnosis. The Bears did earn a ticket to the NCAA tournament, but were unable to advance to the Sweet 16 after a tough 2-point loss. Photo by Alex Rubin, Washington University, Justin Hardy was able to graduate early in December from Washington University despite dealing with treatment for stage four stomach cancer. But what changed me in so many ways was everything he did off the court. Top photo: Bears basketball player Justin Hardy takes the court at the NCAA Division III mens basketball game between Emory University and the WashU Bears at the Field House on Feb. 11. Karen Hardys reading has been more extensive. James Jia. The entire 2020-21 season was canceled. Hardy passed away from. Karen Hardy said her son is weighing the possibility of another surgery for the injection of medication to the spot of the cancer. Its a tough one to swallow.. After 13 months of courageously redefining what it means to live with cancer, Justin passed peacefully early this morning, Sunday, May 29, Bob Hardy, Justins father, wrote on Twitter. Field House in the closing seconds to a standing ovation and scored on a layup as time expired. }. But when doctors gave Hardy the go-ahead to play, Hardy decided he would do everything in his power to help the Bears reach the NCAA tournament. St. Louis' Washington University is mourning the loss of basketball player Justin Hardy, who died on Sunday. This is me living my life regardless of the circumstances. Hes not like that. While dealing with his treatment, he continued to be a major . After a 13-month battle with Stage 4 stomach cancer, former St. Charles East star basketball player Justin Hardy has died, according to a statement posted by his family on Twitter. Hardys story went viral after he was spotlighted on ESPNs College GameDay. God loves you just ask. Hardy was supposed to serve as an honorary marshal. How, after a life-changing diagnosis, he became a better person, a better friend and a better teammate. Diagnosed in April 2021, Hardy completed a summer internship, tutored students in the fall, graduated in December a semester early and recovered from 22 kilos of weight loss to play college basketball. five Dr. Haeseong Park, a Washington University oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center, said she has not seen a case of stomach cancer in someone Hardys age in two or three years. At the time, he was given 12-18 months to live. None of his teammates were sure if Hardy would return to playing minutes at all after watching him undergo chemotherapy all summer. Dom Adduci (2014), AJ Washington (2014), Cole Gentry (2015) and Justin Hardy (2018) "I can't control the spread of cancer inside of me, that portion is going to do what it does," he said. Hailing from St. Charles, the late athlete was only22. Hardy then went on to play at Washington University in St. Louis, where he stayed even following his graduation last December. The Bears and Maroons hugged each other as finalseconds ticked away. You have permission to edit this article. Washington University basketball player Justin Hardy recently passed away at the age of 22. At first, Hardy wasnt sure if he wanted to return to the court competitively. But he did take the court one final time during the Bears final regular season gameagainst UAA rival University of Chicago. If I want to live life, I have to choose to put my best foot forward and attack it with a positive mentality. Please logout and login again. Everyone knows Justins incredible story about how he kept playing, Nolan said. Deeply sorry to announce that Washington University Basketball Player Justin Hardy's Cause of Death was announced. But it doesnt consume my thoughts negatively like it did initially. Still, in a high-flying offense that finished eighth in the league with 249.4 passing yards per game last season, Hardy is liable to put up a couple double-digit outings in standard scoring formats. Washington University has lost a rising star. Your email address will not be published. Our community is forever changed by his legacy of love and strength.. How, after a life-changing diagnosis, he became a better person, a better friend and a better teammate. Wicked winds and drenching rain in St. Louis Thursday night into Friday, Striking photos show inside vacant Millennium Hotel St. Louis, St. Louis forecast: Weather Alert Day issued for Friday, Illinois first responders prepare for what severe weather spring could bring, 'How can you not be moved? Justin Morris Hardy, 38, of Sioux City passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Omaha, Neb., after a courageous battle with cancer. He got to the point where he was doing the same exercises as his teammates, and a month later, teammate David Windley looked over to see Hardy outlifting him. We were in awe on a daily basis.. The 22-year-old college basketball player from St. Charles, Illinois, who passed away last week after a battle with stage 4. 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