Teen and mentor save each other through cancer and surgery

When Sterling Owens Jr. was matched with mentor Matt Maneval through Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2017, neither could have predicted they'd save each other's lives. Just three months after their first meeting, eight-year-old Sterling received a devastating diagnosis: leukemia.

Matt, then 25, never wavered. He visited Sterling in the hospital, playing games between medical procedures and watching his Little Brother face each challenge with remarkable courage. "No matter what they asked him to do and even if he was scared, I saw his brave spirit and strength with which he faced every challenge," Matt shared.

Through years of treatment, hospital stays, and even a pandemic that forced them to connect via Zoom, their bond only deepened. Sterling gradually returned to normal life, eventually becoming a high school sophomore who plays football and looks after his friends.

Then in 2024, the roles reversed. Doctors found a tumor on Matt's pituitary gland, and he needed brain surgery. This time, it was Sterling's turn to be the anchor.

"Thinking about how Sterling faced his cancer diagnosis was an anchor for me in that time, helping get me through the next few months with a source of bravery and confidence from him," Matt explained. The teenager who had once needed support now provided it, standing strong for the mentor who had stood by him.

Sunny's Take

Matt's decision to become a Big Brother came from watching his own dad's experience with the program. His dad's Little Brother, Todd, became Matt's godfather, showing him how mentorship can create family bonds that last forever. When Matt asked for advice before meeting Sterling, his dad told him simply: "The most important thing is to be reliable. Don't flake, don't cancel. You need to keep showing up."

And show up he did. Week after week, year after year, through hospital rooms and homework and hard conversations and countless hours of Xbox.

In June 2025, their nine-year bond earned them Big Brothers Big Sisters' highest honor: Bigs and Littles of the Year. The national award recognizes one pair annually who exemplify how mentorship changes lives.

Sterling is now a kind young man who cares deeply about helping others, carrying forward the lesson Matt taught him: when life gets hard, you keep showing up.