About Nicole
On April 22, 2002 Nicole was diagnosed with
metastatic Ewings Sarcoma (bone cancer). Her results showed she had a tumor
located in L2 and L3 of the spine, cancer of the lung, right arm and left
ankle. Nicole was immediately sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
where she was further diagnosed and began treatments. She went through 3
months of chemo, 17 treatments of radiation, 4 days of stem cell harvesting,
two stem cell transplants and 6 months in isolation. Nicole was not supposed
to return back to school until August of 2003. She proved them wrong!
During her treatments Nicole never asked why me, but instead took the
challenge on as she would any opponent she played in field hockey or
basketball. She constantly told doctors the opposite of what they said. For
instance, she was told she would have to have surgery to remove any part of
the tumor after the initial treatment. She told them that she would not need
the surgery, she was right. The doctors told Nicole that each stem-cell
transplant would take 4-6 weeks, Nicole said no, and she was done in 2-weeks
each time. Nicole was told that she would not be able to return to school
until August of 2003, again Nicole said no, and was back by April 14, 2003,
her birthday.
During her battle, Nicole continues to be concerned about kids that she saw
at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. During her stays and visits Nicole
talked to kids about procedures, purchased stuffed animals for other sick
children and gave nurses ideas on how to help other patients take
medications and deal with side effects that come with treatments.
During her hospitalization Nicole continued her school work. During her
stem-cell transplants Nicole would complete assignments with a bucket by her
side. She never missed a beat during her homework or rehab even with the
nasty side effects. She never missed a homework assignment, did not have a
grade below a B and even made the honor role. Her ability to stay up with
her work and keep good grades allowed her to run and win the position of
vice president of her class.
After going back to school in April, Nicole got right back into the swing of
things by coaching an elementary school basketball team. She took this
opportunity not only to educate kids on the finer points of basketball, but
on what it’s like to live with cancer. During the summer, her middle school
basketball coach asked Nicole to help coach the summer league team. She
surprised everyone by winning her first game.
Nicole began preparing for the fall season by doing pool work and bike work.
In late June she found out that her cancer had returned and that options
were limited. This seemed only to intensify her determination and with the
help of her field hockey coaches and athletic director, Nicole was able to
practice and play throughout the season.
Nicole took this opportunity to get field hockey teams in the Lehigh Valley
to help her raise money to help purchase ICEE machines for hospitals that
treat children with cancer. During her treatments, Nicole found that this
cold substance helps break up the mucousititis, helps relieve pain
associated with mouth sores, and helps keep medication down, and is one of
the only things that stays down. By the end of the 2003 field hockey season
over $15,000.00 dollars was raised. As of today, 2 machines are on their way
to two local hospitals.
In October Nicole was honored by the booster club with the courage award for
her battle against cancer and in November she was honored at the
Thanksgiving game pep-rally for her fundraising achievements. Matt Brown,
Saucon Valley’s Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach, presented Nicole with the
autographed League Championship basketball for the courage she had
demonstrated to him and his team.
Nicole even went back to the hardwood this past winter. After several weeks
of practice, her varsity coach was concerned with the number of illnesses on
the team and her low immune system. She continued to go to the games and
support her teammates even when she was not feeling her best. In January
Nicole was told that the tumor would take away her ability to walk. Two
weeks later Nicole began experiencing some of these symptoms. She continues
to battle cancer but expects to be on the field hockey field come summer.
If you tell Nicole she is a hero she will nod no, and say she is just
someone trying to make a positive difference and that’s what everyone should
do.
Nicole's Obituary Published May 5th, 2004 in The Morning Call
Click here for a slideshow of Nicole's life, as shown at her services.
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