Nobody loved the Baltimore Ravens more than Mo Gaba. The 14-year-old superfan, born Mossila Kingsley Gaba, unfortunately lost his battle with cancer in July.
The team was quite familiar with Mo and his mom, Sonsy Gaba. Mo was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 9 months, which left him blind. As the years progressed, he became diagnosed with retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma. He spent most of his life in hospitals, but sports brought him joy.
In fact, in 2015, Mo secretly started calling into sports radio shows and became a fan favorite. With time, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Baltimore Orioles. He also was chosen to announce the NFL draft pick written in braille back in 2019.
To pay tribute to him, the Baltimore Ravens did something extra special at their stadium. As sporting events still don't have the crowds they used to due to the virus, the team ordered cardboard cutouts of Mo to help fill the stands.
"It's hard to believe that my son left behind a legacy just being himself,” his mother said in a video, per People magazine.
The cutouts were featured in section 146 of M&T Bank Stadium.
"What he did in 14 years of his life, I can't help but be proud of him," his mom said. "I miss him, but I'm so proud of him." The cutouts were in a section called "Mo's Rows," and the Ravens have stated that they'll stay up until fans are allowed back in the stadium. But this isn't the only tribute the team has planned.
They also plan on finding a way to highlight the "Mo" in "Baltimore" that's stenciled into the end zone on their field. "Seeing his name in the end zone at this game, it's gonna be a great moment," his mom said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Mo's radio calls helped him earn a fan base. At the time, his mom had no clue he was calling in. He usually phoned in on his way home from school. He most often called 105.7 The Fan and Mix 106.5. Those fans also reportedly helped him raise funds for his medical bills.
He was so popular that the official MLB blog called him a "household name" for Maryland sports fans. Shortly before his untimely death, he learned that he was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame. He was also the second recipient of the Wild Bill Hagy Award, which is given to fans.
Both the Orioles and the Ravens also made sure to give him a kind send-off. The Ravens wrote "Forever a Raven. We love you, Mo," in a tribute. In July, shortly after his death, the Orioles out together a highlight reel that they shared on Twitter. "Thank you, Mo, for sharing your joy and contagious laughter with the team and all the countless memories we will never forget," they added.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan also paid tribute to Mo. "Absolutely heartbroken by the passing of Mo Gaba, a bright light who brought joy to all who knew him and hope to everyone who heard his story," he wrote. "Our prayers go out to his family and loved ones."
Johns Hopkins Medicine also contained many big fans of Mo among its staff. In an article, they stated how strong he was for battling cancer four times and still staying upbeat. Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which are affiliated with Johns Hopkins, chose Mo to be one of their 10 National Champions who'd help represent the network of children's hospitals.
Luckily, he was able to be interviewed about this accomplishment. It was yet another moment to be proud of. "I think I was downtown with my mom when she got a phone call," Mo said, in regard to the honor. "She was really surprised. I didn't know how big of a deal it was, but I was excited when she told me because I love Johns Hopkins."
The opportunity also gave Mo the chance to travel. "We got to travel to different states with the other National Champions," he said. "We met a lot of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals leaders at their headquarters in Salt Lake City. My favorite was we got to go to Vegas. We spoke and shared our story on stage with lots of people from the RE/MAX company. It was fun and a little overwhelming."
He also made sure to thank his mom, as well as his medical team, for helping him in his battle. "My time at the hospital can be fun, but it can also be really hard because of the medicines I take and the type of treatments I get," he said. "It can be really tiring. My mom is always there with me. Always. The nurses are the best. They're nice and they sometimes take time out of their day to hang out with me."
Known for his laugh and smile, he also was a great resource for other children who were battling similar ailments. "The only thing I can say is stay positive," he said. "Don't be negative. Look on the bright side. Make sure to laugh a lot. When you laugh, others laugh too. And then everybody feels better."
Mo wasn't just known in Baltimore. After his death, ESPN even did a write-up on the young fan. The publication noted that Mo became close with Orioles player Trey Mancini, who is also in the midst of going through chemotherapy. In a way, Mo was a good reminder that people are strong enough to undergo anything.
Trey was especially heartbroken over Mo's death, and he made sure to give Mo a shout-out. "Your kindness, bravery and positivity has left a lasting impact on all of us who were lucky enough to have met you," he said, per ESPN. "You have truly made this world a better place."
While Mo's death is tragic, it seems as if he did more in his 14 short years than many of us. He made people laugh, gave people hope, and served as a positive influence for so many other sick children. For the Baltimore teams he loved to create such a tribute is so touching — and proof that he was truly special.
