Seahawks fan with terminal cancer wish granted with visit from Deshawn Shead

It was a big game-changing play for a pro athlete but it was not on the football field.

DeShawn Shead visited a Seahawks fan with terminal cancer. It was all due to other Seahawks fans who reached out to Shead after hearing that one of their fellow 12s was struggling with the disease and only had days to live.

They asked Shead, before a Seahawks roster change was made, to pay a life-changing visit, fulfilling a last wish.

"Does he know we're coming," Shead said.

As Shead was led through the halls of Providence Medical Center, Seahawks fan Ken Joel was struggling to breathe because of the terminal cancer heavy in his lungs.

Joel only had days to live but a symbol of inspiration was at his bedside, and more were around his room giving him courage.

"One of his requests was just to meet a Seahawk player," Shead said.

Shead heard about Joel, a passionate life-long 12, who was at the Kingdome for the Hawks' first-ever home game and even found a way to work in the stadium.

Shead said, "Somebody reached out to me and told me the situation, and it's an opportunity for me just to show my presence, just to give somebody just a little bit of hope."

"How's it goin Ken," Shead said. "Deshawn Shead, yeah, Deshawn Shead!

Nice to meet you, man!" "You're back with the team," Joel said.

Shead: "Aw man, I'm so excited to be back."

It's a moment Joel was able to forget about his pain, struggle and fear and just hang on with his favorite player.

Shead said, "Yeah, sorry to hear everything's going on, but I'm a big believer the power of the mind."

Shead asked Ken -- with the few days he had left to live -- to listen to an inspirational book called "The Power of Intention," it's about the forces of unconditional love, forgiveness and kindness.

Joel: "I don't know if I deserve this."

Shead: "You do. You deserve everything."

Joel: "It's humbling."

Shead said, "I'm a normal person. And, so, for me to be able to come here and talk to you, I'm fortunate enough to play the game of football, but this thing is bigger than football."

"You really made me feel special," Joel said.

"I'm glad I could just come here and let you know there's always hope," Shead said.

Joel said, "When they first said you got cancer, you got a couple of days to live -- I didn't expect the outreach from the Seahawks...that came."

Joel and Shead talked family, football and belief that determination can flip the odds and create overtime in life.

"My daughter's 4, going on 15. Haha," Shead said.

Shead said, "I'm in the middle of battling, grinding. I'm gonna go home and watch some more film, just to find my way to make the 53-man roster, but, this is bigger than football."

Joel said, "It was, it was amazing!" "I appreciate you."

Shead: "I appreciate you."

If Joel didn't realize it before, he knew the power of the 12s was a connection that only begins with football.

Joel: "He's just genuinely a nice person."

Within the next two days after Shead's visit, Joel listened to Shead's book suggestion. He died Wednesday morning, surrounded by love and his family.

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