Andrew Dillon isn't letting brain cancer write his story—he's gripping the bat, stepping into the box, and swinging for the fences.
This spring, the Bethel University baseball star led his team in batting average. That alone would be impressive. But what makes it extraordinary? He did it while facing the return of a disease he thought he'd already beaten.
It all started on Valentine's Day 2025, when Andrew received a brain cancer diagnosis that would test everything—his body, his spirit, and his faith. Through surgeries, treatments, and chemotherapy throughout 2025, he fought hard and won. The scans came back clear. Life could finally return to normal.
But early 2026 brought a devastating twist. Months of scans and re-scans revealed the cancer had returned in two spots on his brain: one in the original tumor location, and another smaller spot elsewhere.
On the drive home from hearing the news, Andrew and his parents, Bryan and Michelle, stopped for lunch. Bryan asked his son how he was feeling.
"He goes, 'I'm angry,'" Bryan recalled. "'I'm angry that I ever got this.'"
It was the first time Andrew had admitted frustration throughout the entire ordeal. And who could blame him? This spring was supposed to be his victory lap—his final season playing baseball for Bethel, graduation a year early thanks to college credits earned at Wabash High School, a Senior Day to remember, and walking across the stage to receive his diploma.
He did all of those things anyway. Because Andrew Dillon is determined to not let cancer define him.
"It was a real punch in the gut," Andrew said. "It's not what you want to hear. We always knew there was a possibility it would come back, but I was really hoping and praying that it wouldn't."
Since that initial diagnosis in February 2025, the Dillon family has leaned heavily on their faith to get through the tough times. Andrew found a second family at Cornerstone Church in Mishawaka, where he became close friends with Elijah Poorman—whose father, Matt, serves as the lead pastor. Together, they helped build a student ministry that meets every other Sunday night.
Andrew's story is a reminder that the greatest battles aren't always fought on the field. Sometimes, they're fought in hospital rooms, in waiting rooms, and in the quiet moments between treatments. But for Andrew Dillon, the game goes on—and he's playing it his way.