Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
During what former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade described as the most terrifying moment of his life – facing kidney cancer surgery – he found solace and strength in the unwavering presence of his father. In a recent interview, Wade discussed the profound impact his father has had on his life, especially during his 2023 health scare.
Dwyane Wade’s Choice: Father by His Side During Cancer Surgery
The retired NBA legend shared with Hoda Kotb on her “Making Space” podcast episode on April 23, his choice of having his father with him before undergoing surgery for kidney cancer in 2023.
A Father’s Steadfast Support
“I chose my dad,” Wade revealed. “He’s the guy, for me. He’s always been. It’s crazy because I’m a mama’s boy, all those things, but my dad has been there.”
Wade, now 43, previously mentioned that he arrived at the hospital that day accompanied by his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, and his father, Dwyane Wade Sr. The NBA Hall of Famer explained that only one person was permitted to be with him before the procedure to remove 40% of his right kidney, necessitated by the discovery of a cancerous mass.
“I just thought about actually who I wanted to see in my most vulnerable state,” Wade stated. “And it was my dad. I wanted my wife to see me when I woke up, I wanted her to be the first person I saw, but in my most vulnerable state, when I was probably as scared as I’ve ever been, I wanted my dad to be there. I was like, ‘I need my dad.'”
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Shared Experiences: The Father-Son Bond
Dwyane Wade Sr.’s own battle with cancer further strengthened the bond between father and son.
Facing Cancer Together
“My dad shared with me when he was going through prostate cancer, and I think we got closer through that process because I (was) obviously concerned about him, but we started communicating more because this was something that was a part of our genetic genes as men in our family,” Wade recounted.
“And so we started being able to share personal things,” he continued. “Like, I would call my dad after I left the hospital, like, ‘Yo, I just got a prostate exam, Pops, and the doctor did this,’ and he’ll laugh and say, ‘Oh yeah, that’s nothing. She just wanted to do this.’ We just got close when his prostate cancer (was being treated).”
Early Detection and Fatherly Influence
Wade mentioned on “TODAY” on March 11 that his father’s prostate cancer diagnosis prompted him to undergo a checkup, which ultimately led to the early detection of his own cancer.
The Importance of Checkups
This proactive approach led to further testing, revealing a 3-centimeter mass on his right kidney, diagnosed as Stage 1 cancer. The mass was surgically removed in December 2023, with his father by his side.
Instilling Values: Lessons from Dwyane Wade Sr.
Dwyane Wade Sr. has consistently been a pillar of strength for his son, nurturing his passion for basketball during his childhood in Chicago.
- Love of Sport: “He channeled his love of sport into his son,” Wade explained. “He channeled it into me, and he took me, like, literally everywhere with him. And so I fell in love with sport. I fell in love with competition. I fell in love with camaraderie.”
Discipline and Responsibility
As a military veteran, the elder Wade also instilled discipline and a sense of responsibility in his son from a young age.
“My father would get up every day at 5 a.m., and I would have to get up every day at 5 a.m. with him because he would make me iron his clothes before he went to work,” Wade shared.
He even recalled driving his father to the train station for work at the age of 12.
Early Morning Lessons
“My dad saw something and he was putting something in me and a lot of responsibilities on me,” Wade reflected. “And so I’ve been getting up at 5 a.m. since I was, like, 9 years old.”
A Lasting Legacy
“My dad was an amazing father, and he was there,” Wade said later in the podcast. “He showed up. He instilled things in us. Like I said, he was very militant, so a lot of ways that I am, when I say I’m OCD, a lot of that comes from my dad — make your bed, wash the dishes.”