by Hanna Singh
One strong little boy from Ruston is getting his dream come true.
Reed Pipes, a 6-year-old boy basketball fan with Leukemia, is getting his wish to attend the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
At 4 years old, Reed was diagnosed with Leukemia. This upcoming weekend will be exactly two years since his diagnosis. Although it has been a tough battle for the Pipes family, they are grateful for the ongoing support that they have received from their community.
Only a few weeks ago, Reed received a package in the mail from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He opened it to reveal a custom Topps basketball card with his own face and name, along with a message on the back reading “Your Wish is Being Granted! Fanatics, Make-A-Wish, and NBA are sending you to the 2026 All-Star Weekend. See you in Los Angeles!”
Reed’s Father, Trey Pipes, expressed how he felt about the opportunity.
“We are very excited for Reed to get to experience this,” Trey said. “Especially considering how much joy the NBA has brought him the last couple of years.”
During Reed’s time spent in the St. Jude hospital, he was able to attend several Memphis Grizzlies games, where he became a big fan of the team. Despite going through many difficult challenges for a young boy, Reed found joy in things like basketball.
Throughout his time doing treatment, Reed has found support in many organizations in his community, such as the Lady Techsters and Coach Stoehr, TriDelta at LA Tech, TKE at LA Tech, and AE Phillips. His family and community have surrounded him in love and support, ensuring that he won’t ever have to go on this journey alone.
Reed’s mother, Lauren Pipes, highlighted how others have supported Reed and his family during the last 2 years.
“Reed’s Leukemia diagnosis has been one of the hardest things we’ve ever been through,” Lauren said. “But even though we’re having to walk this road, I’m thankful for the support we have received from the community of Ruston. From the Lady Techsters to TriDelta, the support has been unbelievable. And now, Reed getting to live out his wish trip from Make-A-Wish is just amazing.”
Reed and his family leave this Thursday for Los Angeles to experience the All-Star Weekend. From the celebrity game to the slam-dunk contest, there will be lots to see for this little NBA fan. With support from his family, community and organizations like Make-A-Wish, Reed is able to take on these challenges knowing he isn’t on his own. He is doing better each and every day.
