You wanna talk about toughness? You wanna talk about courage? And grit? And resilience? And living, I mean, truly living life? Let me tell you about Cailen Vela, a 7-year-old who is fighting cancer with grace and dignity.

“He says that his big hope is that his friends or family members don’t have to get a port [for an IV] and don’t get cancer,” Aly Vela, his mother, says.

Yes, Cailen is a wonderful example of empathy, too.

“He’s taught me a lot about perseverance and maturity, just the way he approaches life and is able to adapt,” Detroit Tigers pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long says. “It’s amazing to get that kind of perspective from someone even though they’re so young. He’s taught me a lot about life.”

Gipson-Long and Cailen have been friends since they met on the field at Comerica Park on Sept. 10, 2023 – the day Gipson-Long made his Tigers’ debut, and the day the Tigers held a special event to honor children with cancer – and the relationship has continued off the field.

Now, on this cold winter night, they were back together again at a Detroit Red Wings game at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Sitting at a restaurant off the main concourse, Gipson-Long leaned against a table, talking to Cailen about a video game they play against each other online.

Can you imagine that playing out? A child and this MLB pitcher, each wearing headsets and playing against each other, the magic of the internet making them seem like they are in the same room together, able to talk trash in real time and laugh and have fun.

For the record, Cailen kicks the crap out of Gipson-Long online.

“That’s my buddy, my friend, and he’ll be my friend forever, and I’ll be friends with that family forever,” Gipson-Long says. “It’s bigger than baseball.”

Getting decked out for game

“LET’S! GO! RED! WINGS!” a fan screamed, walking down the concourse.

Gipson-Long walked by the man and headed to the Red Wings’ team store. Cailen was walking next to him.

You wanna talk about a tremendous example? You wanna talk about making a difference? You wanna talk about somebody who has a platform through sports and is actually using it?

Let me tell you about Gipson-Long. While he lives down South and is in the process of buying a home in Tampa, Florida, he flew up to Detroit for three days this week for several charity events. He went to the 12th annual Hometown Holiday Assist for Detroit PAL youth at a Meijer. He bought lunch for the Tigers ticket sales department and spent time at the Children’s Center in Detroit, donating about 50 winter coats. Then, he went to a “Kids Kicking Cancer” class in Southfield.

He’s done this for three years now, coming to Detroit during the offseason to try use his Tigers platform to do some good – and yes, that should be applauded. There aren’t many athletes who make a special trip back to Detroit every winter, just to do a whirlwind of charity work.

On Tuesday night, he took Cailen and his parents to a Wings game. But there was a problem. Gipson-Long determined that Cailen needed some Wings swag. So, Gipson-Long walked into the store, looking for the kids stuff.

“Are we going with red?” asked Carly Chulock, Gipson-Long’s fiancée.

Cailen nodded.

“I wear a small T-shirt,” he said

Chulock walked to the back of the store and pointed at the wall. “Oh, I think I see some good ones,” she said.

Gipson-Long grabbed a jersey.

“What’s your favorite number?” Chulock asked.

“Oh, 53,” Cailen said.

So, Gipson-Long handed Cailen a jersey with No. 53 – the same number worn by Moritz Seider.

Cailen took off his sweatshirt and tried it on. It was a little baggy. “You want it oversized,” Gipson-Long said. “You should wear your sweatshirt under it.”

Just like Gipson-Long.

“I want popcorn and to watch the game,” Cailen said.

But Gipson-Long was just getting started. He found Cailen a Wings cap and bought him a Wings tumbler and a giant foam hand and an oversized plastic chain to wear around his neck. They walked up to the register together and Gipson-Long pulled out a credit card.

“Wow, you got a giant hand now,” Chulock said, looking at a giant foam hand.

Gipson-Long finally healthy again

Gipson-Long has spent the past few years struggling through injuries. He started the 2024 season on the injured list with a groin strain. Then he blew out his elbow, had Tommy John surgery and a hip surgery that ended the 2024 season.

“I was still rehabbing in spring training,” he said. “Then I started throwing lives at the end of spring.”

In 2025, he came back but then had a neck issue that put him on the Injured List in July and then again in September. In total, he’s pitched in just eight games in the last two seasons.

“Some ups and downs and trying to figure things out in my body and everything,” he said.

But he is feeling great now.

“I got the neck spasms neutralized,” he said. “It was just a combination of strengthening, some anti-inflammatories and mechanical adjustments. Having a little down time to let it kind of calm down.”

Now, he is feeling great and truly preparing for a season instead of going through rehab before a season. There’s a huge difference.

“The elbow hasn’t been a factor,” he said. “I’m feeling really good.”

True meaning of toughness

Cailen has spent the last few years in a battle against a cancer that formed in in his left mastoid, a bone structure behind the ear.

“He is on his third occurrence of his cancer,” his mother said.

He has been through chemotherapy treatments as well as surgery to remove his left ear.

“We already knew that he didn’t have hearing in his left ear, most likely from the original tumor that originated in his middle ear,” Cody Vela, his father, said. “So they removed his middle ear, his ear canal, and all the little pieces of the ear inside the head, around the mastoid. So right now, it looks like a normal ear, except the ear canal is sewn over.”

Every three weeks, he does a full week of chemotherapy.

“He’s so strong,” his mother said.

When Gipson-Long is pitching on TV, Cailen watches, yelling encouragement at the TV. “We really appreciate everything they do for us and check in, and they’re just part of the family,” Cailen’s mother said.

Just two buddies hanging out

Cailin had excitement in his eyes as he watched the Wings play, sitting next to his friend, Gipson-Long.

The MLB pitcher and the kid from Fruitport.

“Here, give me some of that,” Gipson-Long asked.

Cailen nodded his head, letting Gipson-Long dig for some popcorn.

“It’s salty,” Gipson-Long said.

“We like salty,” Chulock said.

They were clapping their hands to the music.

“Can you share with me, too?” Chulock asked.

Cailen gave her some popcorn.

“Thank you, Cailen,” she said. “That’s so nice of you. You are a good sharer.”

It was so sweet and heartwarming, watching Cailen, wearing No. 53, hanging out with a Detroit Tiger. Two buddies cheering for the Wings.

And wouldn’t you know it? Seider scored a goal and had two assists in the Wings’ 5-4 victory over the Bruins.

Because, sometimes, everything just feels right and good.