Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s 4-year-old son is in remission after battle with cancer

Santiago Spoelstra, the 4-year-old son of Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, has been battling Burkitt lymphoma for months. On Thursday, he proudly rang the gold bell at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as he enters remission, the family posted.

“Yesterday, our big boy got to ring the bell in the cancer wing at Nicklaus, and the gratitude I feel is overwhelming,” Santiago’s mother, Nikki Spoelstra, announced on Instagram.

Santiago was diagnosed after his fourth birthday when doctors found a mass during an unexpected surgery, she wrote.

“ ’Benign’ I thought to myself,” she said. “It has to be benign.”

Throughout his chemotherapy, Nikki Spoelstra said, he remained brave and strong.

“He did not lose his joy. So many friends and loved ones made sure that none of us did,” she wrote.

The Spoelstras have two children, Santiago and 2-year-old Dante, and are expecting a third.

READ MORE HERE: Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s wife Nikki announced a new addition coming soon

“My family and I are incredibly grateful to his pediatricians, the surgeons, the doctors, the nurses, the whole Child Life Team, and all of the staff at Nicklaus who took care of our boy … but also, our family,” his mother wrote. ”There were many tears but these special individuals all made sure that there were plenty of smiles and all the love and support to go around. There really aren’t enough words.”

The Spoelstra family’s joyous news was met with hundreds of kind and caring messages on Instagram.

“Strongest boy. Love you guys,” Katya Elise Henry wrote.

Instagram user Aysia Marotta wrote, “We are all sending you so much love. He’s a champ!”