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Hahn's return to Kaneland football truly an inspiring story

During the next few weeks, the Daily Herald will select its high school all-area football team for several regions throughout the suburbs.

Top local players receive the distinction of Honorary Captain.

Many area high schools have already chosen their individual most valuable players.

I feel strongly about my selection as one of the state's most inspirational players for the 2015 football season - Drew Hahn.

In March of 2014, Hahn, then a seventh grader attending Harter Middle School in Sugar Grove, received a diagnosis of anaplastic large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hahn, a 12-year-old at the time, took a positive approach to the cancer diagnosis.

"It could've been worse," said Hahn. "The way I saw it, I thought, 'I am going to get over it. I'll get healthy.' "

Hahn, who underwent several rounds of chemotherapy at Rush University Medical Center in the spring of 2014, had one thought in mind after hearing the diagnosis from doctors.

"One of my biggest motivations was getting back to playing football," said Hahn. "It was my goal from the first moment I got my diagnosis."

His dad, Matt, remembers a little different feeling.

"Drew's thoughts have always been football, football, football," said Matt, the longtime varsity baseball coach at Geneva High School. "But as a parent, sports don't enter your mind when your son is sick and lying on a hospital bed."

Last year as an eighth grader, Drew couldn't play football while still attempting to regain his strength.

"It was hit and miss," said Matt. "His weight had dropped from 190 to 155 pounds. There were times where he couldn't wake up and get out of bed to go to school."

Drew kept on fighting.

"I took it one week at a time," he said. "I had a goal and I was not going to stop trying until I achieved it."

Last summer, Matt received a phone call from Kaneland football coach Tom Fedderly.

"He said they were going to take a look at him (Drew)," said Matt. "I was thinking oh, maybe for the sophomore team and Tom said, 'no, no, no, the varsity.' I was like, 'holy mackerel.' It definitely added some shock to it."

Last August, nearly a year and a half after his initial diagnosis, Drew Hahn took the field for his first football game in two years.

"It all started in the locker room on game day," he said. "My first thought was that it almost didn't seem real. I was so happy to get back out there."

His parents, Matt and Cyndi, younger brother, Ryan, and several other relatives and family friends were cheering from the stands.

"Just to watch him go through the inflatable tunnel and run on the field again, I was thinking, 'I'm good.' There weren't many dry eyes in the stands. I was just trying to compose myself."

Drew, now a 6-foot, 220-pound freshman inside linebacker wearing jersey number 8, enjoyed a memorable high school debut - one good enough for any motion picture studio executive.

"He entered the game and recorded a sack on the first play," said Matt.

Kaneland went on to defeat Chicago-Brooks, 45-22.

During Week 6 against Sycamore, Drew tore a ligament in his right elbow (ulnar collateral ligament) and was forced to the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

"He got his arm caught in a pile of bodies," said Matt. "It was a freak accident."

The Knights' Class 6A playoff run ended with last weekend's 42-7 second-round loss to perennial state powerhouse Montini.

"It stunk not being out there obviously," said Drew. "I've got three more years left though."

After all that he has been through, Drew has a sense of perspective well beyond his years.

"Drew has always been an old soul at heart even when he was younger," said his dad. "You mature even faster when life smacks you in the face.

"On the negative side, this has made him grow up so fast but there are so many positives, too. I know I look at things differently now."

Drew also has a different outlook on life.

"I see things my friends don't see," he said. "I like being able to see those things."

Admittedly, Drew doesn't know how he would have gotten to this point without the help of family and friends.

"Everyone that has been there for me - it has meant everything," said Drew. "To hear hope from that one extra person - it really does help a lot when you're fighting for your life."

It makes his return to the football field seem much smaller by comparison but by no means less significant.

"Honestly, just to play football this season is one of the best things that could have happened to me," said Drew.

Craig Brueske can be reached at csb4k@hotmail.com.

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