Mount Allison WR Dakota Brush, Lions' sixth round pick, promised his dying mother he would do everything he could to make it in the CFL.

Perhaps the most inspirational part of his journey is the fact he is here after a promise he made to his mother Teresa before she passed away from lung cancer two years ago. It was the end result of a battle, which began when Brush came home for Christmas during his second year at University.
“When I got off the plane her hair was shaved from the treatment and that’s when she told me she was diagnosed,” said Brush from his campus home in Sackville, New Brunswick. ...

“When I came back for the holiday I drove her to and from chemo and stuff. After I went back I got a phone call saying it wasn’t looking good and that I should come back home. It wound up being a mis-communication between the doctors and our family but I was able to get some time off school and be with her. She was getting worse and worse but told me to go back and focus on school and football.”
Brush received a similar phone call only about ten days later and this time he would not make it home in time: he would have to say his tearful goodbye over the phone. It was right then and there that Brush made the ultimate promise to the woman who brought him into this world.
“My Sister held the phone up to her ear and I told her that since day one I said that I wanted to play in the CFL and become a pro football player. I said ‘I promise you I am going to do everything in my power to make it.’
Sunday night made that a reality. I kept that promise and I couldn’t be happier that I was able to do that in her memory and for me as a whole.”
No doubt Teresa was smiling from up above after receiving an early Mother’s Day gift. Her son is coming off an impressive four-year career with the Mounties, leading the program in receiving yards in his final two seasons. Winning that AUS conference championship in 2014 ranked up there as his top highlight.
Now Brush is focused and excited for the start of rookie camp on May 25th and the opportunity to work with some pretty good personnel.
“In high school I watched Travis Lulay and I remember Manny Arceneaux being with the Vikings before heading back there. I just remember growing up watching BC Lions games and being really excited,” said Brush. ...

“Dakota is a big receiver and professional football is a big man’s game,” said director of football operations Neil McEvoy.
“Dakota has the size and weight to play at the pro level and he will have the opportunity to come to training camp and be a possible roster player for us this year.”
http://www.bclions.com/2017/05/09/dakota-brush-promise/