Nick Gilbert, the now 21-year-old son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, is scheduled to undergo brain surgery this week, according to reports from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Gilbert has lived with a severe nervous condition, neurofibromatosis, for most of his life, and the surgery is to remove a tumor from the young man’s brain.
Following is from ESPN,
Gilbert’s son was born with neurofibromatosis, commonly referred to as NF, a nerve disorder that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body at any time. One out of 3,000 people on average is born with NF. The procedure — laser ablation brain surgery — is scheduled for Tuesday. The tumor is located in the brain stem, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.
Nick Gilbert charmed the NBA world as the Cavaliers’ ambassador during the 2011 Draft Lottery selection, the year the team earned the number one overall pick in that year’s draft. The Cavaliers went on to draft Kyrie Irving with the pick.
Gilbert, in 2013, was once again in attendance during the Draft Lottery when the Cavaliers received yet another number one overall pick.
Gilbert had to have a similarly intense surgery ten years ago and has had to endure chemotherapy since he was about six years old.
Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue offered his sympathy for Gilbert’s situation and said the team had shown its support during his media availability following a team practice.
“It’s tough,” Lue said to ESPN. “A lot of guys sent out a video to [Nick] Gillie today. Just wished him luck. We’re all praying for him and wish him the best. Hate to see a young guy go through that, let alone anyone, but being so young and having so much spirit that he has is great. So, we are all praying for him and wish him well.”
Gilbert is a student at Michigan State University and will have the surgery at a local Detroit hospital, according to McMenamin.
