After Kevin Alston’s distressing diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia, and through the treatments that took him out of the game for more than three months, the New England Revolution defender kept himself around the team as much as possible.
Showing up to practices and team functions helped keep him “grounded,” Alston said, assisting in keeping his mind in a happier place by being around the game and the teammates he loved.
Alston is on the Revs’ travel 18-man squad as it goes into DSG Park tonight outside Denver to take on the Colorado Rapids, hoping to play for the first time in more than four months.
In the vide below from the Revolution, the former MLS All-Star talks about getting back, about the ongoing treatment, how he’s doing physically now – “night and day from how I felt before,” he said – about the support he received from around MLS, and more.
He also talks about becoming an inspiration figure: “If it inspires someone, then great. I don’t look at myself as an inspirational person. But with this diagnosis comes some responsibility to help with awareness and … some inspiration, as best as I can do.”
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