It is an ongoing struggle that has dominated the thoughts of Javier Morales and the rest of his Real Salt Lake teammates.
Ever since Marcia Williams -- the wife of veteran RSL midfielder Andy Williams -- was diagnosed with leukemia -- the team has tried to come up with different ways to show their support for a teammate enduring such tough times.
When Morales, Kyle Beckerman and Will Johnson take the field for the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium, Williams and his wife will not be far from their thoughts.
Taking a page from teammate Clint Mathis, Morales will wear No. 77 -- Williams' jersey number -- in the All-Star Game. Beckerman and Johnson also plan to honor their teammate and his wife in a specific yet-to-be-determined way.
"It is a way of showing that we are with him and he is with us," Morales said through an interpreter.
Morales admitted feeling a sense of helplessness watching Marcia Williams' battle with cancer unfold. He knows it is a simple gesture to wear the jersey number, but he feels certain it will mean a ton to the couple.
"Anything I can do to show my support for Andy and give him a little bit of strength -- him and his wife in what they are going through -- it is the least I can do," Morales said.
Paying tribute to Williams will add a special touch to an already special night for the RSL midfield trio.
All three players are making their first ever appearance in an MLS All-Star Game. MLS Commissioner Don Garber selected Beckerman and Morales to the all-star roster. Dominic Kinnear selected Johnson as an injury replacement over the weekend.
For Johnson and Beckerman, their selections came on the heels of stints in the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup with their respective national teams. Both players will face a quick turnaround when they travel to Chicago and play the Fire just three days after the All-Star Game.
It's a hectic schedule to be sure, but this is an experience none of them would trade for anything.
"It's been a ride," Beckerman said. "I'm just trying to soak it all up. Who knows if it will ever happen again? I'm really just trying to enjoy and trying to play the best soccer I can play."
Johnson's last-minute inclusion was met with some skepticism in some quarters, given Real's current position in the bottom half of the Western Conference table. But Kinnear felt like the Canadian standout brings important qualities to the field that made him deserving of a selection.
"The one thing I've always been impressed with when I see Will is his attitude and his commitment to the game," Kinnear said. "He can close down space and pressure the ball. He plays so well in the midfield."
For his part, Johnson felt like his selection was a validation of his hard work and hustle plays he has tried to do whenever he suits up in an RSL uniform.
"It's not for the amount of goals I score, I'll tell you that much," Johnson said. "It's for the little things. It's for the things that often go unnoticed that every team needs. I'm really happy that was recognized."
Whether Garber and Kinnear intended to make a statement or not, naming three RSL midfielders speaks volumes to the amount of talent that is contained within that portion of the Claret-and-Cobalt roster.
Morales knows that living up to the hype will be the next challenge. He sees their selections as a mandate for improvement, not just simply a reward.
"We know we can do better," Morales said. "Maybe we were selected for the quality of players that we are, but we need to do more to show that for the rest of the season."
John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
