OWENSVILLE — Lucas Yeager was a five-sport athlete at Clermont Northeastern, and he had a vision for what his future would be like after he graduates next year.
Then, cancer put his future in doubt.
“It was kind of hard to believe that I went from going to the doctor once a year, maybe twice, and then I’m in the hospital all the time,” Lucas said. “The news wasn’t that horrible to me. I wasn’t worried about whether I would make it through; I was worried about what my life would look like after.”
However, with overwhelming support from friends, family and the community, an immense sense of positivity and a new profound appreciation for the career he aspired to be in, Yeager won the biggest battle of his young life, and the accomplishment will change his trajectory forever.
“I figured that I am going through it already; I might as well have a good attitude and tough it out,” Lucas said. “I wasn’t happy that I had to do it, but I was happy that I got the chance to do it — I got the opportunity to go through it and live. For that, I am extremely grateful.”
His nearly yearlong fight with cancer culminated May 9 with a pregame ceremony in Clermont Northeastern’s non-divisional baseball game against Western Brown. Standing with his family and surrounded by his baseball teammates, fans heard about Yeager’s journey over the loudspeaker. Afterward, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his sister, Emma, to kick off Lucas Yeager Night.
“Everybody has tried to make it as normal as possible for Lucas,” Lucas’ mother, Stephanie Yeager, said, “and obviously, this night is amazing. With support from his friends, coaches, teammates and the community and family, everybody rallied behind him and had his back in everything. All of the prayers and thoughts we have received have been amazing.”
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