Vivian Eagle and Cade Thompson are two high school students from Indianapolis who have a lot in common. They both love sports, they both have bright smiles, and they both went to prom together. But they also share something that most teens don’t: they both survived the same type of bone cancer.
Vivian and Cade were both diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the bones. They both had tumors in their left legs that threatened their lives and their dreams. So they had to go through surgery and chemotherapy and give up their athletic careers.
But they also found each other. They met through Vivian’s mom, Katrina, who is a teacher at Cade’s school. She introduced them after Vivian got her diagnosis last year. Cade had been fighting cancer for a year and a half by then, and he knew what she was going through. He became her friend and mentor, and they supported each other through their toughest times.
The teens bonded over their harrowing health journeys together, which culminated in an unforgettable prom night. They danced, they laughed, and they forgot about their troubles for a night.
“[Prom] was really magical, and it just made me happy,” Cade told her. “I felt like I found my purpose when I met the Eagle family.”
Vivian agreed, saying that Cade gave her hope when she needed it the most. “I just can’t thank them enough,” the volleyball player added.
They had an instant connection when they met, and they felt like they were part of the same family. “We had a connection that words can’t explain because of what we went through,” Cade said.
Vivian was diagnosed in January 2022, when she noticed a bump in her left leg that caused her a lot of pain, leaving her barely able to walk. The doctors found a 5-inch-long tumor in her leg.
“My heart dropped,” the teen told IndyStar. “I was like, ‘What? Cancer? And what about volleyball?’ I had just played in my first tournament, and then I got the news.”
Cade had been diagnosed in July 2020, when he felt his knee give out during football practice. He thought it was just a minor injury, but it turned out to be a tumor in his leg.
They both had to face the harsh reality of cancer, but they also had a second chance at life. Vivian finished her chemo treatment in October 2022, and Cade celebrated two years of being cancer-free this past April.
They raved about their friendship and how thankful they were to have someone who understood them, especially in their darkest moments.
“[Cade] was always there when no one else was. There was a time, especially after surgery, when I was at my lowest point. He knew why,” Vivian said in another interview.
“There are not many people in the world who are always there,” she continued. “No matter what, Cade was there for me.”
This is the heartwarming story of two teens who beat cancer and became friends. Vivian and Cade shared their pain and their joy, and they inspired each other and many others.