Those interested in donating to the Errett family may do so via Venmo (@PlainfieldGirlsSoccer) or PayPal (Plainfield Girls Soccer Boosters). Please mark #JillStrong. Shirts may be purchased via 317 Graphics & Apparel.
PLAINFIELD — Bailey Errett knew exactly where she wanted to go. The sophom*ore midfielder had just scored her first career goal, lifting Plainfield to a 1-0 win over Whiteland. And once she made it through the handshake line, Bailey jogged over to the corner of the track where Jill Errett was sitting in her wheelchair, a red blanket draped across her lap, and wrapped her in a hug.
Bailey’s teammates gathered around and a smile swept across Jill’s face as she shared a moment with her daughter.
It was the perfect ending to a night dedicated to Jill in her cancer battle.
Bailey has had some special moments during her career. But Wednesday? "This one is going to be a huge memory," she smiled.
"Tonight is something I'll remember forever."
Zach Errett wasn't sure if his wife would be able to make it Wednesday, let alone stay through the entire game.
Jill Errett was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer, in January 2023. Her condition has been declining recently, Bailey said, and Zach described Wednesday as "a tough day" at home.
But throughout her battle Jill has wanted to make it to as many of her children's sporting events as possible and was aware of what the community had planned. The first game of Bailey's sophom*ore season coincided with #PrayAndPlayForJill night, a celebration fundraiser to support the Errett family.
Jill wanted to be there and Zach did everything he could to help get her there, making sure she got plenty of rest throughout the day.
"Do you want to go?" he asked late Wednesday afternoon.
Yes, I want to go.
"Alright, we'll get you there."
The plaza around the concession stand had already filled in by the time Jill and Zach arrived. A few long foldable tables were set up for people to eat at, with tents set up along the side for handing out special t-shirts, which were designed by Bailey and donated by 317 Graphics.
Over $2,000 had been raised during the past week as of 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The final total: $10,102.
"It's amazing, overwhelming. We're so grateful," Zach said before the game. "It really (shows) how much Jill has meant to so many people. It's hard to put into words."
'Maximize life and enjoy the days.'
Jill thought she was having a stroke when she woke up on the morning of Dec. 23, 2022. She was rushed to the ER where doctors determined it wasn't a stroke, but recognized signs of a tumor. Subsequent scans and tests in January confirmed the tumor's presence and she was diagnosed with grade 4 brain cancer (also known as glioblastoma).
"It changed perspective," Zach said. "It's not a situation of like, 'Are you gonna be able to beat it?' You're probably not going to be able to, the question is just, 'How long do we have?'"
Jill's treatments over the weeks and months since have included a variety of chemotherapy drugs, radiation treatments, two craniotomies and multiple surgeries. She made weekly trips to Northwestern University over a six-month span and spent three weeks at a rehab facility relearning how to walk last fall.
Doctors found a second tumor on the top of her head last May — a surprising development, as glioblastoma is usually very localized and doesn't spread to other parts of the body.
They've tried everything hoping to find something that would work, Zach said. "And unfortunately, we really haven't had a lot of success with it."
"There's really no more treatment options for her right now, so we're just trying to maximize life and enjoy the days."
Soccer as an escape
Soccer is Bailey's safe space; a chance to escape from reality. "It makes me happy. It helps me keep going."
"It's definitely been really hard, especially since recently my mom has been kind of declining," Bailey continues. "It's been really, really tough mentally to get through it, because some days are worse than others."
She admits there are days when she would rather stay home with her mom than go to practice, but Bailey just keeps going. The sophom*ore midfielder wants to do well this season — and she knows that's what Jill wants for her and her brother, too.
Both Zach and Plainfield coach Mitch Holden marveled at Bailey's perseverance over the past year-and-a-half. She's been "amazing," Zach said, explaining how his daughter helps around the house and has managed to make everything in her life work despite the burden she has to carry.
"She does an amazing job holding it together," he continued. "It's not easy — and she has her moments — but she's really done a great job and we've had a great support group around her."
'I know it meant a lot to my mom.'
The Plainfield boys soccer team was among the first to greet Jill and Zach when they arrived, each player presenting the couple with a rose. The team had an outing planned that day, but instead of catering it, the team moms donated the money to the Erretts and the boys ate at the event.
The girls varsity players emerged from their locker room soon after, each tearfully embracing Jill before gathering around her for a pregame photo.
Dozens more stopped by to visit with Jill and give her a hug. Some were from Plainfield, Mooresville — where Zach was AD in the 2010s — and Whiteland; others made the trip from South Putnam, where Zach teaches. Bailey heard six teams were in attendance, as well as a number of her club teammates, one of whom traveled from Lafayette (her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she and Jill bonded over their shared cancer battle).
"Seeing it all play out when we thought it was going to be a tiny group was so magical and it means so much," Bailey said. "It shows how much they care and it's just — it's so nice. I'm so happy that everyone came out and supported. It meant a lot to us and I know it meant a lot to my mom."
The first #PrayAndPlayForJill night was a more intimate gathering, one organized in secret as a surprise for the Erretts last season.
This year's event exceeded all expectations.
Bailey suggested they schedule it for the season opener, so Shannon Conners, Stephanie Stewart and a few other soccer parents worked on planning, while Plainfield athletic director Torrey Rodkey and his staff promoted it, sending out fliers and posting on social media.
Conners hoped to receive "a couple things" for the event, but as word spread, donations snowballed.
Stewart donated a Yeti cooler to be raffled off, while Holden's mom provided a couple Hallmark gift baskets. All the food was also donated, with pulled pork prepared by Jason Moore and mac and cheese from a couple local restaurants.
Bailey designed the shirts, creating a "HOPE" logo with a ribbon in place of the "O" on the front and #PrayAndPlayForJill written across the back. 317 Apparel took her designs and printed them on shirts, 180 of which were pre-ordered between the Plainfield soccer teams and online.
An additional 40 shirts were available for purchase on-site beginning at 5:30 p.m. All but four were sold within the first 30 minutes — and they had to bring in more mac and cheese around 6:30.
"It exploded far more than we ever could have imagined," Conners said. "I'm really excited to see everyone come out and show an awesome family they have a community rallying around them. … I hope they feel the love."
Game-winning moment: 'Absolutely perfect'
By the time Zach set up his wife's wheelchair in the corner of the track, there was a full student section behind one net and a large number of fans in the stands.
Jill made it through the entire game, watching with Zach, their seventh-grade son Ethan and a few friends as Plainfield and Whiteland played to a scoreless stalemate through the first 70 minutes.
What happened next was incredible.
Junior Emma Conners corralled a deflected ball in the Whiteland box and slipped a pass through traffic to Bailey. With a defender closing in, she "full-on tried to kick it" as best she could and snuck her shot past goalkeeper Addison Emberton.
Bailey jumped in the air as the ball crossed the line, then turned to celebrate with her teammates, falling to the ground as they mobbed her in the end zone. "It was the best feeling," Conners said.
"Bailey being the one to score in this game, at that time, was just absolutely perfect," senior midfielder Ellie Stewart added.
Bailey Errett's first career goal was the game-winner on a night dedicated to her mom. And it all happened with Jill in attendance.
The perfect punctuation to an emotional night.
“(My mom) wanted to stay awake long enough to watch the game and I’m so proud that she stuck through it and made it, because I know it meant so much to her and it meant so much to me having her here for her event," Bailey beamed.
"It was such a good night. I’m so happy.”
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at@Brian_Haenchen.
