Robinson Cano Delights Leukemia Patient with Surprise Ice Cream Truck Visit

Nick D’Annibale is a 13-year-old with leukemia who just about adores Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano. On May 17, he got to meet him.

MLB.com (h/t Big Lead) has a full report on the beautiful moment when a young fan saw his sports hero come out from an ice cream truck to play some Wiffle ball.

It all went down as D'Annibale, a New Jersey native who is recovering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hung out with MLB Fan Cave's crew:

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D'Annibale, who is recovering from a form of leukemia, got to tour the Fan Cave on Friday morning, and then the Cave Dwellers brought him outside for a game of Wiffle ball on Bond Street. And then, after D'Annibale had hit several sizzling line drives, the biggest surprise happened.

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Every kid understands the sight and sound of an ice cream truck means guaranteed treats are on their way. Little did D'Annibale know that this particular truck would yield an afternoon of playing Wiffle ball with an MLB All-Star.

It was a fantastic moment for a young man who has been through an exhausting battle. As the report states, D'Annibale was diagnosed with leukemia in November of 2011, which then mandated extensive treatment that drained a great deal of his strength.

Cano not only showed up to meet his fan, he played Wiffle ball, ate ice cream and signed the jersey of a very enthusiastic D'Annibale.

As for the signature, Cano placed the following message on his fan's back: "To Nic: God Bless. Your biggest fan, Robinson Cano #24."

Cano is off to another great season, leading a Yankees team doubted by many pundits to first place in the AL East.

Still, despite all of Cano's on-the-field heroics, this tiny gesture will be the one that sticks with D'Annibale and many other fans for a lifetime.

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