On a bright Saturday morning in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, University of Alabama Police Officer Justin Beal stood on the sidelines of a baseball field, his uniform catching the morning sun, his face lit up with a smile that only a proud father could wear. His eight-year-old daughter, Chadeyn, was on the field, participating in a Miracle League game—a baseball league created for children with special needs. For Chadeyn, it was a chance to shine. For Justin and his wife Christina, it was another cherished moment in their extraordinary journey of parenthood.

To a passerby, it might have looked like just another weekend game, a normal slice of family life. But for Justin, that morning carried a depth of meaning far beyond the surface. Behind the warmth in his eyes and the calm in his stance lies a reality that would challenge even the strongest among us: Justin Beal is battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

This isn’t just any diagnosis. Justin is facing Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a relentless cancer that originates in the body’s glandular tissues and often returns despite treatment. Justin was first diagnosed in 2019 and, after a grueling fight, believed he had beaten it. For a time, he did. But rare cancers like this are unforgiving. They recur. They metastasize. They test not only the body but the spirit.

On September 11, 2025, a date already etched with sorrow for many Americans—especially for those in uniform—Justin received the devastating news: the cancer was back. The symbolism was haunting. A police officer dedicated to service and protection, once again called to face a life-threatening battle on a day when the nation remembers those who gave everything.

The tumors have now taken root in his right sinus cavity, nestled dangerously close to vital structures in his face and head. On October 2, a team of skilled surgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will undertake a complex and life-altering operation. The procedure is expected to last many hours and will involve the removal of:

• His right eye

• Portions of his upper and lower jaw

• Many teeth

• Parts of his palate

• The orbital bones surrounding his eye

To reconstruct his face and restore function, surgeons will harvest bone from his scapula, remove lymph nodes from his neck, and utilize veins from his legs. A tracheostomy will be placed to help him breathe, and skin grafts will be used to cover areas altered by the surgery.

And that is only the beginning.

Once he recovers from this massive operation, Justin will endure six weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiation—a phase of treatment that will test his physical endurance and emotional fortitude. The road ahead is daunting.

But despite it all, Justin has never wavered. He hasn’t complained—not to Christina, not to his children, not to his fellow officers. Not once. His strength is quiet, steady, and deeply rooted in his unwavering sense of purpose.

For Justin, life has always been about service and gratitude. Even in the face of overwhelming adversity, he remains focused not on the disease inside him, but on the love that surrounds him: his wife, who has stood by his side through every doctor’s visit, every scan, every moment of fear; their three children, who bring joy and laughter into even the darkest days; and especially Chadeyn, whose own health challenges have inspired the family to find resilience in the most difficult circumstances.

Born after suffering a stroke in utero, and later diagnosed with epilepsy, Chadeyn’s journey has not been easy. But each milestone she achieves is a beacon of hope. Her participation in the Miracle League is more than a fun outing—it’s a celebration of progress, perseverance, and possibility. It’s the very reason Justin keeps fighting.

“This Saturday’s Miracle League game is going to be huge,” Justin said, a spark in his voice that rose above the fatigue of his illness. “We can’t wait to watch Chadeyn play.”

To many, Justin might seem like the one who needs a miracle. But in truth, he already is one. A walking testament to courage, resilience, and selfless love. He doesn’t see himself as a victim or even as a patient. He sees himself as a father, a husband, an officer, and a man committed to living each day with purpose.

In a world that too often celebrates only the extraordinary, Justin reminds us that true heroism lies in the ordinary moments—in showing up, in cheering from the sidelines, in holding your loved ones close, even when the future is uncertain.

Justin Beal's story is not just one of illness. It is one of hope, grit, and unshakable determination. His greatest wish is simple: to survive, to return to the job he loves, and to continue serving the community that has stood beside him through it all.

Until then, he takes each day as it comes. And on this Saturday, that means one thing: celebrating a game that’s bigger than baseball. A game where every child is a star, every parent is a cheerleader, and every moment is a miracle in motion.

Because while cancer may take many things from Justin Beal—his eye, his bones, even his voice for a time—it cannot take his spirit. It cannot touch the love he has for his family. And it will never steal his will to fight for another tomorrow.