TopLaxRecruits.comm Posted 1/14/13
The lacrosse world is mourning the passing of Fairport (N.Y.) senior lacrosse-football player Blake Cognata, who lost a courageous battle with Ewing’s sarcoma on Saturday just days before his 18th birthday.
Cognata was diagnosed with the rare children’s bone cancer nearly a year ago and through social media captured the heart of the nation. Through his fight, Cognata received support from many people; just last week a major Twitter campaign called #APCallBlake led to a phone call 90 minutes later from his idol, Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson.
Cognata, who would be 18 today, has also become the focus of the hashtag #FindYourStrong.
He died with family at his bedside in the pediatric intensive care unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.
Cognata was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma on Feb. 1. He was forced to stop playing lacrosse and football.
According to the DemocratandChronicle.com, doctors found that Cognata’s cancer had spread in the fall and his mother told the media outlet that nearly every bone in his body had been affected.
Cognata’s mother told the DemocratandChronicle.co, the phone call provided much joy for Cognata and several days later a package of various items arrived via overnight mail from Peterson.
On Saturday night, Peterson tweeted his sympathies: “My thoughts & prayers go out to the Cognata Family! RIP Blake Cognata. Love you brother.”
“He brought a lot of smiles to the school,” said Danielle Kaye, a 2012 graduate of Fairport High School told the DemocratandChronicle. “He was a really funny guy and a model student. A friend to everyone.”
