Wristband symbolizes strong bond KU’s Wayne Selden has with young cancer survivor

Look closely during warmups Thursday, and you will notice only one Kansas player goes through shoot-arounds wearing wristbands.

On Wayne Selden’s right wrist is a white-and-pink band, a reminder to be strong — and of a friend he’s kept close for the last three years.

“It really just puts things in perspective,” Selden said. “When things aren’t going as well, you can look down at that and just be like, ‘If she fought through all that, why can’t I?’ ”

That friend is 9-year-old Karis Selk of Topeka, who first met Selden in September 2013, nearly a year after being diagnosed with a form of brain cancer.

Karis, who still was weak after rounds of chemotherapy, was introduced to the team by KU coach Bill Self after he carried her over to the team huddle.

“It was the start of a great relationship and connection with all of them, but Wayne, him and Karis just kind of made that connection,” said Karis’ mother, Stephanie.

Selden, who also wears a yellow wristband to support Topeka high schooler Mia Miyamoto’s cancer fight, has broken Karis’ wristband three times and received replacements from the family each time.

When the Selks made their way to the autograph line outside the Jayhawks’ Allen Fieldhouse locker room a few months after going to that first practice, Karis asked each player to sign a photo book she was going to give to a friend. She asked Selden without looking up.

“Well yeah, but can I get a hug first?” Selden replied.

At a later game, Karis made her way down to the autograph line, wondering whether Selden would recognize her with the new bob wig she was wearing. He did, making sure to give her a high-five.

Later, at a basketball camp in Lawrence, Selden surprised Karis by giving her one of his blue shoes. The memento — it’s now on the dresser in the bedroom — was signed, and Karis often tells her parents she could fit both of her feet into that one shoe.

“He’s a good friend,” Karis said. “He’s a good player.”

Selden also has shown his support on Twitter. He shared a picture of his wristband and later wished her a happy birthday two months ago on Jan. 16.

“To have that positive influence in her life in the most difficult time that she’s facing is incredible,” Selk said. “She needed it.”

Selden has done much more without others knowing.

One example was June of last year, as Selden reached out to the family via text to ask for the latest update. Karis, who has been in remission for 2 1/2 years — five years is considered cancer-free — completed her 16th MRI.

After it was over, Karis delivered a video message to Selden from her hospital bed: “Hi, Wayne. Hi, Wayne. How are you doing?”

Selk texted the video to him and apologized when Karis’ younger sister, Braylin, called him “Waynesie” in the video.

Wayne texted back to say the new nickname was just fine with him.

“He’s not just a basketball player to (Karis). I don’t think he ever has been. It’s more of a friend,” Stephanie Selk said. “She made a friend who plays really good ball.”

Though Karis has met with a few teams — including Sporting Kansas City — her mother said she’s latched on most to Selden.

Karis’ “Feel Better Friend” doll — the one with the same scars she has on her head — is dressed in a KU nightgown. When Karis received honorary jerseys from the Washburn University volleyball and basketball teams, she was excited that she received No. 1 — the jersey number of her favorite player.

Sometimes while watching games, Karis also will tell her parents she’s worried about Selden playing too much, thinking he could get tired.

“She’s like, ‘He doesn’t give up, so I’m not going to give up,’ ” Stephanie Selk said.

Selden has met up with Karis a few times. He’s sat with her at KU women’s basketball games, and he also gave her family tickets to a World University Games exhibition last summer at the Sprint Center.

He also is making plans for a future lunch date.

“In four or five years, when I’m long gone from here, I’m still going to be in contact with her, just because it was a connection,” Selden said. “I just want to keep up with her.”

Stephanie Selk believes her daughter will continue to have a friend in Selden in the years to come.

“We’ve never met his family or his mom, but I hope to someday, just to tell her what a good guy she’s got,” she said.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Wristband symbolizes strong bond KU’s Wayne Selden has with young cancer survivor."