Kevin Alston fights leukemia, MLS family shows support
by Kyle McCarthy
New England defender Kevin Alston did what most people would do when he felt sick during a 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas on March 30: he told the Revolution medical staff about his concerns.
At the time, Alston could not have expected the forthcoming series of events to unfold. He submitted to a routine physical examination and underwent a series of standard blood tests after completing his 88-minute shift. And then he received a shocking diagnosis: he had chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
The former MLS All-Star took an indefinite leave of absence from the Revolution on Monday to start treatment for the slow-growing disease. He expects to return to the club at some point in the future, according to a release issued by the team.
Alston’s plight prompted an outpouring of support from within the American soccer community this week. Many prominent figures – including several players from around MLS – and scores of supporters showed their support on Twitter by tagging their messages with #GetWellKA.
