Bo Nix Donates $2 Million to Brave 9-Year-Old Boy Who Saved His Father's Life by Donating Stem Cells
Quarterback Bo Nix has made an inspiring and generous gesture, donating $2 million to support a courageous 9-year-old boy who saved his father’s life by donating his stem cells. The act of selflessness by the young boy not only exemplified immense love and bravery but also captured the hearts of many, including Nix, who was moved by the family's story.
The young boy, who made the decision to undergo a stem cell donation procedure to save his father’s life, has become a symbol of love, strength, and family bond. His act of donating his stem cells not only provided his father with a second chance at life but also sparked a wave of admiration and support from people around the world.
“I was deeply moved when I heard about his story,” Nix said in a recent statement. “The courage and selflessness this young boy showed to save his father is beyond inspiring. I wanted to do my part to help them however I could, and I’m proud to contribute in this way.”
Nix’s $2 million donation is aimed at supporting the boy’s family in covering medical expenses, as well as funding further research into stem cell therapy and other life-saving treatments. The donation serves as both a personal gesture of compassion and an investment in a cause that Nix believes can have a lasting impact on many families in similar situations.
“I just hope this donation can bring some relief to their family and help raise awareness about the power of stem cell donations,” Nix added. “This young boy’s act of bravery reminded me of the importance of family and how far we should be willing to go for those we love.”
The donation has been met with widespread praise, with many applauding Nix for using his platform to make a difference beyond the football field. The boy’s story continues to inspire countless people, and Nix’s act of generosity is further proof of the incredible power of kindness and the bonds that unite families.
Bengals' Joe Flacco dealing with AC joint sprain in throwing shoulder; QB's status in question for Bears game
Joe Flacco turned back the clock and turned in a 300-yard, three-touchdown "Thursday Night Football" performance during a Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, only nine days after the Cincinnati Bengals acquired the 40-year-old quarterback in a rare cross-division trade with the Cleveland Browns.
Eighteen seasons in, Flacco can adjust on the fly without much practice time, and that's why it's possible he could be out there Sunday against the Chicago Bears despite currently sitting out with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder.
"You've seen what he's done," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said of Flacco Wednesday. "Came in and played on a Thursday after three days of practice, so I think if anybody in this league can get by with minimal reps right now, it's him."
Flacco is considered "day-to-day" and, according to Taylor, won't practice Wednesday. Taylor also told reporters Flacco has a 50/50 shot of playing against the Bears. The Bengals are preparing Jake Browning, who started the first three games of Joe Burrow's turf toe absence, in case Flacco isn't available.
The Bengals are 3-5 and trailing the 4-3, first-place Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. They have a bye in Week 10, but Flacco doesn't want to wait until Week 11 to get back on the field.
Taylor was adamant Wednesday the franchise-turned-journeyman quarterback wants to play in Sunday's Week 9 game, even though he's dealing with an injury Taylor described as "painful."
"He wasn't here in the offseason. He wasn't invested in our training camp," Taylor said. "So for him to come in, it would be easy to make a decision that 'there's no way I'm playing. I got an AC joint, we got a bye week next week, let's just let this thing heal up,' and that has not been the communication he's given to me at all.
"Now, ultimately, he may not be able to play. We may make that decision. But for him just to want to put it out there for our team, himself — like he said before, he's just a football player. That's what he does. That certainly goes a long way with me."
If Flacco can't go, the Bengals will pivot to Browning.
Although Browning filled in for Burrow admirably in 2023, posting a 4-3 record and a 70.4% completion rate in seven starts that year, he struggled mightily in that role this fall.
The former undrafted free agent out of Washington lost all three of his starts and completed 64.1% of his passes while averaging a meager 5.6 yards per pass attempt and throwing more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four) in defeats to the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions.
The Bengals were outscored by a combined 113-37 in those games, but Taylor explained Wednesday that that Browning alone wasn't responsible for that nosedive.
"I mean that was wholesale offense we got to play better," Taylor said. "And at times there were tough circumstances.
"The Minnesota game got out of control fast with just turnovers that we've done an excellent job of preventing, in terms of the fumbles and things like that. The next week, we went on the road in a tough environment. I think Denver speaks for itself right now, how they're playing on defense. That's been a tough challenge for everybody. And then Detroit obviously has been a great team as well. They've been getting after everybody, so it was a challenge for any quarterback that's playing those units."
Taylor continued: "Obviously, we didn't hold up to the challenge in any way, shape or form. That was on all of us. We put that behind us, and now our offense is doing a great job these last couple of weeks, and we got to keep doing that. So if it's Jake that steps in, I got full confidence that we'll continue to operate at a high level and be able to score some points."
Flacco's arrival jumpstarted Cincinnati's offensive revival, but, to Taylor's point, the unit collectively is reaching a higher standard.
For instance, the Bengals have rushed for at least 140 yards in back-to-back games after averaging just 56.7 yards per game on the ground in the previous six outings.
Protecting the ball will be key for the Bengals against a Bears team that leads the NFL with 16 takeaways this season.
Flacco hasn't thrown a pick in his two starts for Cincinnati, and he's hoping he makes it a third Sunday against Chicago.
