Written by: Jenna Stockman
Blake Davis, a 6th grader at Franklin Middle School, is your typical teenager. He plays video games, has a huge interest in planes, loves sports, and is a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan.
“I don't think I know of a human who loves the Bills more than Blake,” his mother Ann Marie said. “He lives and breathes football. He knows stats, plays, and things that we are constantly in awe of.”
Blake always has a smile on his face because he’s a genuinely happy kid. But he’s also resilient, and the average person who meets Blake has no idea how much strength he truly has.
In August 2023, Blake was initially diagnosed with an acute form of Crohns after being extremely ill. He began treatment, and his family thought things were going well. But in December, things took a turn for the worse. He started experiencing extreme pain in his foot and back, and was unable to walk and stand. After many trips to different doctors, multiple ER visits, x-rays, scans, MRIs, bone biopsies, and two stays at the hospital, the Davis family finally got an answer. Blake was diagnosed with Chronic Reoccurring Multifocal Osteomyelitis (CRMO), a rare disease that only impacts one in a million. Unfortunately, Blake has a pretty serious form of it. His immune system is attacking the healthy tissue and bones in his body, which has led to a lot of complications for Blake and a lot of worry for his family.
“There is nothing worse than not knowing what is wrong with your child, because how can you fix it? As a parent you should be able to fix it all,” Ann Marie said. “We have a diagnosis, and we have a plan, but it's still a lot of holding your breath to see what is working and what isn't.”
Right now, Blake has good and bad days. He receives infusions every four weeks with each infusion taking about eight hours. He’s also on a low-dose chemotherapy drug and has to be careful when it comes to any sickness due to being immunocompromised. But the ever-so-resilient Blake isn’t letting anything bring him down. After only being able to attend school for a few hours at a time last year, he's finally back at Franklin Middle full-time.
“We are so thankful to everyone who has helped us along the way, including the teachers and staff at Franklin Middle who made sure Blake stayed on track,” Ann Marie said. “We are so thankful for everyone's support and for showing us such grace.”
As part of Blake’s treatment, he spends a lot of time at Oishei Children’s Hospital and, this past spring, joined a group called “Champion Kids”. It’s allowed him to meet new people, make new friends, and experience new opportunities – including one recently that combined his love of football and helping others.
In early October, Blake was surprised to be a part of “My Cause, My Cleats”, an annual effort that allows NFL players to raise awareness and express their commitment to causes that are most important to them. For Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Oishei Children’s Hospital holds a special place in his heart.
“It’s a special spot. They serve a lot of families throughout Western New York,” Allen said in a video. “They don’t get a lot of recognition and this allows me to show how much they’re appreciated.”
Allen visited the hospital in October and met Blake, one of two Champion Kids who were chosen to help design Allen’s cleats. They sat with him to come up with a theme, choose a color pallet, select designs, and then created the cleats using a special AI program. Weeks later, Allen received his cleats and met with Blake and Bella, the other Champion Kid, to unveil his on-field footwear.
“I think we are still processing it all,” Ann Marie said about the experience. “Josh was so genuine and thoughtful with the kids, even when the cameras were off. Knowing that Blake met a hero of his and was part of a national campaign that supports a place where he continues to receive care, has been amazing!”
Allen debuted his cleats in the team’s Week 13 home game against San Francisco. Blake was able to take it all in from the field as he was part of the pregame ceremonies. It was a special moment for Blake and his family after all they’ve been through, and a reminder of just how strong Blake is as he continues to face what life has handed him.
“If you look at Blake, you would maybe not know there is anything going on,” Ann Marie said. “He’s a really special kid. He's kind and empathetic and still puts others before himself, even though he's been dealt a pretty tough hand. I am truly thankful he is ours!”
