Tony DeMarco

You're Jon Lester, a 24-year-old cancer survivor, and here’s the question you now get to ponder:

Which one is more special, pitching the clincher in the Boston Red Sox’s 2007 World Series sweep last October, or pitching a no-hitter at Fenway Park against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night?

What do you say to that? How can there be a wrong answer? There just can’t be, because this is a story where the happy endings just keep on coming.

"I can’t tell you which one means more than the other," is what Lester said in the aftermath of blanking the Royals and allowing only two walks in what, oh by the way, was his first major-league complete game.

"The World Series is, obviously, the World Series. How many people get to say they’ve won that? And a no-hitter is a no-hitter. How many people can say they’ve done that?"

And how many people can say they’ve done both within 20 months after being diagnosed with large cell lymphoma, and beating it with the help of chemotherapy treatments? Exactly one.

"Words can’t describe it now," Lester said.

Maybe that’s why his Red Sox teammates mobbed Lester and catcher Jason Varitek after Alberto Callaspo whiffed for the final out in a 7-0 victory. And why Lester and manager Terry Francona shared a special moment amidst the celebration.

"He said he was proud of me," Lester said. "I’ve been through a lot the last couple of years; he’s like a second dad to me."

Yes, Lester has been through so much that his impact should stretch far beyond the walls of the Red Sox clubhouse, and even Red Sox Nation.

Fellow cancer survivors everywhere should be celebrating. And those who are afflicted should have found another reason for hope. Lester’s career big-league ERA may be a middling 4.47, but it’s hard to find a better role model out there. Just when you thought he couldn’t top what he has already accomplished, he does this.

Ten months after Lester completed cancer treatments in his hometown of Tacoma, Wash., he went into Coors Field for Game 4 of the World Series last Oct. 28 and threw 5 2-3 shutout innings at the Colorado Rockies. Along the way, he had endured rehab stops in Greenville, Portland and Pawtucket before a return to the Red Sox on July 23 against Cleveland.

Ironically, Lester was matched that frigid night in late-October against Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook, who had survived a blood-clotting scare that required two surgeries before he could resume his career. Lester and the Red Sox came out on top, 4-3, and had their second World Series title in four years.

Afterward, Lester said: "If I can help out one person who’s down in the dumps because they have cancer and it’s not going well, maybe they’ll say, 'If he could do it, I could do it, too.'"

And now Lester has added this to his resume of heroic moments — the first no-hitter by a Red Sox left-hander since Mel Parnell in 1956 — and in only his 37th major-league start.

Lester struck out nine and received exceptional defensive help in the form of Jacoby Ellsbury's diving catch of Jose Guillen's fourth-inning line drive, and a pick of a low throw by first baseman Kevin Youkilis in the third inning.

Lester threw 20 of 29 first-pitch strikes, establishing his fastball and working in breaking balls and changeups when he was ahead in counts. That helped him make history in 130 pitches.

"I can’t lie; it (the no-hit possibility) went through my head a couple of times (in the ninth inning)," Lester said. "It just worked out. You don’t feel tired in that situation. You’ve got so much adrenaline going."

Nor can we ever tire of witnessing Lester’s inspiring accomplishments.

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