After 100 Days in Isolation, a Syracuse Basketball Game Became a Moment of Joy, Healing, and Connection
For Kennedy Myers, the road back to normalcy hasn’t just been long-it’s been grueling. After undergoing a stem-cell transplant in October to treat acute myeloid leukemia, the 27-year-old spent 100 days in strict isolation.
Her immune system, wiped out by chemotherapy and radiation, left her vulnerable to the outside world. For over three months, her outings were limited to medical appointments and the occasional car ride-never stepping into a crowd, never indulging in the kind of excitement most of us take for granted.
That changed last Saturday.
Syracuse’s win over Notre Dame wasn’t just another game in the season-it was Myers’ first time out in public since her transplant. And thanks to a moment of kindness from Syracuse forward Nate Kingz, it became something unforgettable.
Kingz, who dropped a season-best 28 points in the game, spotted Myers in the crowd during warm-ups. She was holding a sign that shared her story and asked for a photo.
Without hesitation, Kingz flagged down player development coach Evan Dourdas, who quickly helped coordinate a meet-and-greet on Jim Boeheim Court. Will Kyle III and Luke Fennell joined in, and within minutes, Myers and her boyfriend, Nick Smegelsky, were standing courtside, posing for a picture with three of the Orange’s key players.
“It made our year,” Myers said.
It was a small gesture from the team. But for Myers, it was a moment of connection and joy after months of isolation, exhaustion, and uncertainty.
Myers grew up in Mexico, New York, and led an active life-she holds a black belt in taekwondo and played tennis at Onondaga Community College. But everything changed in late 2024.
For six months, she battled unexplained symptoms: nausea, rashes, and fainting spells. In March 2025, a blood test finally revealed the cause-cancer.
Eight rounds of chemotherapy and two full-body radiation treatments later, she underwent a stem-cell transplant in October. The recovery has been anything but smooth.
Myers developed graft-versus-host disease, a condition where the donor’s white blood cells attack the patient’s body. She now walks with a cane, takes 50 medications, and travels twice a week to Rochester for treatment.
Still, she’s found ways to stay connected and share her journey. Her TikTok account, @Kennedy.Leary, has over 100,000 followers.
There, she documents her experience with cancer, offering the kind of insight she wishes she’d had when she first got sick. She talks openly about the severe national blood shortage, the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings, and the crushing weight of more than $1 million in medical debt.
But amid all that, she’s also found moments of joy. Lately, it’s been Syracuse basketball.
Smegelsky, 28, is a lifelong Orange fan. His earliest memory?
The legendary six-overtime win over UConn in 2009. So when he was watching Syracuse’s overtime loss to Houston in November, Myers-still recovering-found herself drawn in.
She liked the energy, the grit. She appreciated how hard the team played.
From that point on, the couple synced their calendar to the Orange’s schedule. It became their thing.
When Myers hit the 100-day milestone post-transplant on January 17-an important marker in her recovery-they knew they wanted to celebrate. And what better way than a game at the JMA Wireless Dome?
A basketball game was the perfect choice. Once seated, Myers could relax and soak it all in without needing to move around.
And Syracuse made it easy. From accessible parking to shuttle service, the experience was seamless.
“I have no stamina,” Myers said. “So it’s perfect for us. I get to sit there, but it’s so entertaining.”
And then came the moment that elevated the day from special to unforgettable.
They arrived early and stood behind the basket during warmups, holding out hope that someone might notice the sign. After about 20 minutes, they were close to giving up-until Dourdas approached. Kingz had seen the sign and wanted to make it happen.
To Kingz, it was simple. “I just saw the sign and I was like, ‘Yeah.’
Can we take a picture? Yeah, you know?
Just saw the sign and it’s a good thing to do.”
To Myers and Smegelsky, it meant everything.
Kyle and Kingz were both on Smegelsky’s “top five” list of players he hoped to meet. When it actually happened, he was stunned. “I think I blacked out a little bit,” he said.
Myers couldn’t stop smiling. “I felt so cool every time (Kingz scored),” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, we just met them.’”
After the game, Myers posted the photos on social media. All three players responded, but it was Kingz’s message that stuck with her: “Stay strong, you got this.”
Now, they’re making plans for more games. Myers wants to print the photo, maybe even get it signed by all three players. And there’s no question about their attendance moving forward.
“I think we’ll be at every home game they have now,” she said.
For a couple whose lives have been shaped by hospital visits, medication schedules, and quiet drives during isolation, Syracuse basketball has become more than just a pastime. It’s a source of energy, community, and hope.
And sometimes, it’s the smallest gestures-a quick photo, a kind word-that make the biggest difference.