A stepdad has surprised his son with an inscribed basketball after he was elected team captain. Jeremiah, 9, suffers from debilitating anxiety, depression and ADHD. The sports-mad kid had tried out for his school basketball team, but was overcome with self-doubt at his own ability, becoming increasingly a anxious. But after being elected to the team by the coach, Jeremiah began to worry about playing. His stepdad, Raheem Stephenson, realizing his son was struggling to cope with the expectation wanted to surprise Jeremiah with an inspiring gift to remind him to believe in himself more. Searching the internet, he found a basketball inscribed with an inspiration message that read: “To My Son, I want you to believe deep in your heart that you're capable of achieving anything you put your mind to, that you will never lose. You either win or learn. Just go forth and aim for the skies. I can't promise to be here for the rest of your life. But I can promise to love you for the rest of mine. Love, DAD” With the ball arriving in the post two days before Christmas, Raheem decided to wrap it for his son to open on Christmas Day. As Jeremiah unwraps the basketball, he is initially excited to have a new one to play with in the yard. But he quickly notices the inscription and begins reading it out, with the help of his mom Jeska. As he methodically reads the inscription, he breaks down in tears as he realizes the message is for his dad and its heartfelt meaning.