Ole Miss QB Braden Waterman announces he is cancer-free: ‘God is good!’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Braden Waterman notched the biggest win of his life recently — and it wasn’t last Saturday’s victory over Georgia. Waterman announced via social media yesterday that he is cancer free after fighting valiantly for five years.
May 10, 2020 | was told I had beaten cancer, October 28, 2020 | was told it had returned. 4 years later October 29, 2024 | was told I was cancer free. After going through chemotherapy 3 times and a stem cell transplant I can finally say there is no more cancer!! God is good! pic.twitter.com/rQ1yiaBbZ9
— Braden Waterman (@BradenWaterman) November 16, 2024
“May 10, 2020 | was told I had beaten cancer. October 28, 2020 | was told it had returned. 4 years later October 29, 2024 | was told I was cancer free. After going through chemotherapy 3 times and a stem cell transplant I can finally say there is no more cancer! God is good!”
Braden Waterman via X
The fight of his life
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Waterman was diagnosed on New Year’s Day back in 2020 with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma after just finishing his junior season of high school at Bakersfield Christian. He was just 17 and had unknowingly played the entirety of the 2019 season with cancer.
So when he should have been enjoying his high school days and looking ahead to his senior year, he instead was in the fight of his life facing grueling chemotherapy.
And fight he did.
He was able to return for his senior season — leading his team to the 2022 District Championship and then into Division Playoffs. He topped off his year by being named All League MVP. During his four years, Waterman tallied 3,027 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and 248 rushing yards.
He joined the Ole Miss football team in 2022 as a walk-on, just wanting to help the team in any way he could. But in July of 2023, his cancer returned. He made a post on social media asking for prayers and help. Rebel fans responded immediately with prayers, words of encouragement and donations.
Here was his post in September, 2023:
I don’t really ask for much but I need y’all’s help. God has a great plan for my life and I have been shown day by day. Love the support! We will be back and better than ever!! @Lane_Kiffin
Fundraiser by Marisol ONeil : Help Fight For Braden’s Future https://t.co/NyAfCD8SH6
— Braden Waterman (@BradenWaterman) September 3, 2023
After he announced his cancer had returned, Waterman’s coach Lane Kiffin spoke of his player’s resolve and the respect he has for all he has battled through.
“He’s such an awesome kid, with his energy and positivity. He shows back up here after doing chemo. He’s just so cool. I just love being around him,” Coach Kiffin said last season before the Rebels played Alabama.
“I just love being around him and talking to our players about when they’re down about they don’t have enough plays and they didn’t carry the ball enough or catch the ball enough, look what he’s going through and fighting through and still here positive. It’s awesome. I really do love him.”
Coach Kiffin, last fall, on Braden Waterman
In October of 2023, the Waterman’s announced that Braden was cancer-free.
Cancer returns, March 2024
On March 23, 2024, Braden’s mom and dad posted the following update on their GoFundMe page, letting everyone know Braden’s cancer had returned.
Here’s what they posted:
“Hello everyone,
Firstly, I want to apologize for the long pause in updates. There is a good reason. We needed time. Braden needed time. We now feel more ready to share the latest update with everyone more publically at this time.
Unfortunately, Braden has relapsed again. His cancer fight continues on . . .
After his clean scan in October – we all took a sigh of relief and felt so grateful and thankful. Braden underwent the vaccine procedure, then he enjoyed the holidays. In January Braden traveled with the team to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta where they celebrated a win and brought the trophy home to Oxford. What an amazing exclamation point to an eventful year!
After a little downtime back home with family in California, Braden gradually started not feeling 100% and it seemed his health just went downhill after that. He checked back in with his doctor and another PET scan confirmed the worst. Mid-February, his doctor informed him that his cancer had returned.
To say this was a SHOCK is an understatement. We were devastated with this news. As a family, we supported Braden and his quest to turn over every rock, and cover every angle with regards to undergoing both integrative and western medicine treatments to rid his body of the cancer. We had prayed so hard all of these procedures would be the answer for him.
Alas – it was just not enough.
At this time, Braden’s treatment protocol consists of more rounds of chemotherapy, then another scan. Once he gets a clear scan, he will undergo a stem-cell transplant at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He will need to be there for about a month during this procedure.
Braden’s faith has not wavered through all of this. In fact, he has become even stronger in his faith and he is doing everything he can to stay mentally and physically tough these past 2 months. After his first diagnosis, one of the things Braden has wanted to do is start a business that would help him convey his message of strength, faith and fortitude through dark times. So we are proud to help him announce that his business – Faith Not Fear has officially been launched with this newsletter update. He is starting small with the release of t-shirts and wristbands.
All proceeds go towards his medical expenses, travel to his doctor & hospital 6 hours away from Oxford, Mississippi and everything in between. His insurance deductible reverted back to zero after January 1st, so he will have to meet and cover that before insurance kicks in for the next rounds of chemo and the transplant. Honestly, this has felt like a bad dream that we all just can’t wake up from. We put our faith in the doctors at Siteman Cancer Center that the stem-cell transplant will be the miracle they say it can be for him. It is a hard “reset” so-to-speak, and we ask that you pray Braden’s movement through this invasive process is met with the utmost of strength and mental peace. We pray every single cancer cell would be eliminated from this procedure!!
To say we appreciate everyone’s prayers, support and donations is an understatement. Getting Braden back to health is literally taking a village – a very large village! We cannot thank everyone enough – we are filled with gratitude knowing we are not alone during this fierce fight with this darn cancer.
To support Braden’s new venture, please visit www.faithnotfearco.com
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and support of our son,
Brock + Michelle Waterman”
But as he has every time, Braden fought and fought, keeping his faith throughout the entire journey.
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS…..
The most recent update on Braden’s GoFundMe page reflects the good news as posted by his mom, Michelle:
“So a momentous thing just happened. Braden just received the results from his PET scan.
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE IS CANCER FREE!!
Braden just celebrated his 22nd birthday on 10-29 and this is the best birthday present he will probably ever receive. Truly.
So—here’s to his new life! We KNOW he is going to do great things!!
Thank you for walking alongside Braden on this journey — we love you all!”
Rebels, please keep Braden in your prayers that he stays cancer-free. If you would like to help, here is the link to Braden’s GoFundMe and here is the link to his website where you can purchase his FaithNotFear merchandise.
Hotty Toddy and congratulations to Braden!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
