Sports : Solon player honored by teammates in Vinton recovering from leukemia

Solon players honored teammate Brett Smith in Vinton in February; he is now in remission.

When the Vinton-Shellsburg boys basketball team hosted Solon in February, the event was more about cancer than basketball. It was Pink Night, part of the combined boys and girls events to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

While most V-S fans were aware of the cancer theme and the pink socks worn by the players that winter night, what they did not know was that the Solon players -- and their parents and fans in the visitors' section -- had also recently begun dealing with cancer.

Senior Spartan Brett Smith had been diagnosed with cancer shortly before Solon played the Vikings. Each Spartan wore on his arm a white band with the number 24 on it in honor of Brett.

A former Vinton newspaper man, Doug Lindner, who is now the publisher of newspapers in Solon, was at the game. I asked Doug about the wrist bands, and he told me about Brett and his illness.

"He's a good kid," said Doug. See that story HERE.

Doug's mom, Carmen Smith, recently read that story and contacted Vinton Today to give us an update.

"Brett is doing very well," said his mother. "He was able to graduate with his class, finishing most of his class work on-line. He had a stem cell transplant on April 15, and is now in remission. He is planning to attend the University of Iowa this fall."