The Boston baseball community is still reeling from the news that legend Derek Lowe announced he is battling cancer at age 52. But amidst the anxieties and overwhelming emotions, Lowe sent a message that gave fans renewed hope — a simple yet powerful message.

“I’m happy to have everyone by my side. That makes me stronger every day,” Lowe shared in a new message to fans.

For many baseball fans in Boston, Derek Lowe is more than just a pitcher who once played for the Red Sox. He is a part of history — one of the heroes of the legendary 2004 season, when the team broke the “Bambino Curse” and won the World Series after an 86-year wait.

That day, Lowe was the man on the mound in the game-winning game. And now, nearly two decades later, he’s stepping onto another “mound”—a battle with cancer.

The news of Lowe’s diagnosis stunned the Boston Red Sox community. Those who had watched him pitch during the most tense moments of the postseason now faced the reality that their hero was entering the toughest game of his life.

But if there’s one thing Derek Lowe’s career has proven, it’s that he never backs down from a challenge.

In a message to fans, Lowe said the first few weeks after receiving his diagnosis were incredibly emotional. There were days he felt anxious, even afraid. But there were also moments that made him realize he wasn’t alone.

“My family was with me. My friends were with me. And the entire baseball community was with me,” Lowe said. “I feel incredibly lucky.”

For someone who has competed under the immense pressure of postseason MLB, Lowe understands that mental strength can make all the difference.

Throughout his career, he has pitched no-hitters, won hundreds of games, and been one of the most reliable pitchers in major games. But Lowe says this battle is completely different.

“Baseball is a game,” he said. “This is life.”

However, his approach to the disease reminds many of his own playing style from the past: calm, resilient, and never giving up.

“I’m going to fight like I always do when I step onto the mound,” Lowe said in his first announcement of his diagnosis.

That statement quickly spread throughout the Boston Red Sox fan community. On social media, thousands of fans sent well wishes and shared memories of the 2004 season — the season that changed the team’s history.

Many recalled Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, when Lowe pitched one of the best games of his career to help the Red Sox complete a legendary comeback against the New York Yankees.

“He won the hardest game a pitcher could ever imagine,” one fan wrote. “And I believe he will win this time.”

In recent days, Lowe said he is beginning treatment with the support of his family and medical team. While the road ahead is long, he says his spirits remain high.

“There are so many people battling this disease,” Lowe shared. “If my story can help someone feel stronger, then that means a lot.”

For the Boston community, Derek Lowe has always been a symbol of big moments. But in the eyes of many fans right now, he’s becoming a symbol of something even bigger — courage.

A former Red Sox teammate of Lowe’s said his message resonated deeply with many of his old teammates.

“Derek has always been a fighter,” the teammate said. “But what makes him special is his heart.”

When asked what keeps him going through this difficult time, Lowe simply replied:

“The love of the people.”

For Boston Red Sox fans, that answer is also a reminder that their legend is still fighting — not on the mound of Fenway Park, but in the biggest game of his life.

And just like in 2004, the entire city of Boston is behind him.