Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Pink Games

 Fall 2014, I was scrolling through Facebook, happened to notice a post by  University of Dayton Women's Basketball.  It included a photo of the team at the Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk in downtown Dayton.  They were wearing long sleeve, black shirts with DAYTON in pink.   I posted a comment asking where I could order one.  I think I got a message from the secretary of the Athletic Office. I ended up calling her, and in the course of the conversation, I told her about Melissa.  By the end of the conversation, she asked if I would come talk to the team about Melissa's story.

Jim Jabir was the head coach at the time, and Shauna Green was one of his assistants.  I went to their practice a couple of days later, and talked to the team and the coaches.  After sharing her story and some breast cancer information, we handed out the FORT bracelets.  

Winter, 2016, Shauna was at a game scouting.  I thought she looked familiar, so I asked if she was the new coach at UD.  When I told her that I talked to the team about breast cancer, she remembered.  Asked if I would talk to the team again before the Pink Game.  

Each time I shared Melissa's story, I gained a little confidence.  

I share her story because she was an athlete.  And healthy.  And young.  Close to their age.

It is so important for young women to understand the importance of knowing your family history (breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer are all related).  It's important to let your doctor know your family history.  We didn't know at the time, but Melissa carried the BRCA2 gene.  Before she was diagnosed, we knew nothing about the BRCA gene. That breast cancer doesn't just come from the mother's side.

Testing positive for the BRCA gene makes you high risk for those cancers.  Knowledge is power.  However, women (and men) are diagnosed with cancer even if they are not high risk.  But knowing you are high risk can help in detecting cancer earlier.  Early detection SAVES LIVES.I shared her story with the UD Women's team three times.  

Shauna left UD in 2022 to take the head coach job at Illinois.  She contacted me before the Pink Game in January and asked if I would talk to her team that year.

Last year I talked to UD women's team again (under Tamika Williams-Jeter, who Melissa played against in high school.  Tamika went CJ, then played basketball for UConn).

Shauna's assistant coach, Ryan Genslar (who happened to be a Springboro neighbor of Nick), got the head coaching job for Women's Basketball at Akron.  He invited me to talk to his team before the Pink Game this year.

I talked to Maddy about sharing Melissa's story with the ND team before their Pink Game.  The week before the game, Maddy messaged me, asking if we'd like to come to practice and share Melissa's story.

And next week, we are visiting Ohio University for their Pink Game.  Chelsea Welch, who played for Fairmont, is an assistant coach there.  Look forward to visiting some of Melissa's old haunts.

I hope sharing her story helps.  I know how much it helps us.  Helping is healing.  Sharing keeps her alive for us, and helps us never forget the stories.  

We broke some records for basketball watching last week...started with UD men's game with Ed and Lynn last Friday.  Saturday, we drove to ND, game Sunday,  Came home Monday just in time for Fairmont girls game, boys game Tuesday, girls game Wednesday.  Then on to Louisville for ND game.  Friday, left for Akron, game on Saturday, then home.  Sunday to Illinois for their Pink Game!  Got home Monday, Donny went to UD game last night.  Let's see...that's 8 games for me, 9 for Donny!  Can't get enough.


Notre Dame Women's Basketball team 2023-24
front row: 
Jenna Brown, Niele Ivey (head coach) Donny, Pam, Sara , Cass Prosper
back row: Coach Carlos Knox (ass't), Maddy Westbeld, Olivia Miles, KK Bransford, Nat Marshall
Emma Risch, Kylie Watson, Becky Obinma, Anna DeWolfe, Sonia Citron, Hanna Hidalgo
I sent this picture to our friend Marjory (her daughter Kaylah plays for Fairmont). 
She messaged me back and said she knew the Assistant Coach,  Carlos Knox.  
He went to Meadowdale HS in Dayton.  Her dad coached him in little league baseball.
Got them connected!!!  Small world!!!


Donny.  ND ball boy.


ND Practice

The Golden Dome


The Chapel


The Grotto

Lit candles for Donny's sister Mary, and cousin Lynn.

Erskine's came up for ND game, met them at Portillo's
 (didn't even KNOW there was a Portillo's in South Bend!)

Pink Game

Maddy introduced

Kelly Erskine is a breast cancer survivor.  She was in the Survivor walk at halftime!
(in the pink BIRDS shirt). Survivors escorted by ND football players.

ND WINS!  Us and Anna DeWolfe.

Maddy (and Donny) talking to a friend of Maddy's who played for Pitt!

Our room number...and Maddy's number!!

Next up, ND @ Louisville.  Met my high school friend, Mary Schmidt for lunch.
Captains Quarters on the Ohio River!  Very nice!!

Donny immediately notices they have "Notre Dame" chairs!!! (right colors, anyway!)

Me and Mary.  Friends since 1970! Went to Carroll HS freshman year together, then
we each transferred to a different HS.

YUM Arena, Louisville.





I sat next to this guy first.  He asked if we had someone playing.  His niece used to play
for ND.  He lives in Evansville, (across the river)and supports whenever ND is close.
When Donny sat next to him, he asked if he new Greg Nelson (our good friend)...he GRADUATED 
with Greg!!!


Jim Westbeld  brought some friends from HS (Carroll). The guy on the 
right was our paperboy (Kevin Sorice) when we lived in Belmont!!

Kevin Sorice having fun with the Louisville crowd!


Officials reviewing a play.  We were right behind the scorers table. Too close.

So this guy comes up to us after game, asks if the players come out. Then
asks Susan is she's Maddy's mom.  He went to Fairmont, friend of Nick's.  His
daughter went to Maddy's basketball camp at Fairmont last summer!  Small World!



Akron

Met Cassie and Casey at Lock 15 for lunch before Akron game!

Donny, Pam, ZIPPY, Cassie, Casey

Free shirts!!

Akron game


Illinois Pink Game

Illinois

Mary and Pam



Pam, Cassie, Casey

Pam, Cassie, Casey, Ryan (head coach, Akron)

Ryan, Donny, Pam

Philip, Kelly, Pam, Emily, Donny, Sarah, Jules with
Muffett McGraw (ND)

Akron basketball team!

So, I always ended a post with Andrew...because Melissa usually did. 
Nick, Andrew and Max were supposed to meet us in Akron for the 
Pink game.  (Nick went to Akron).  We got a call a few hours before they were
supposed to be there. Not coming.  A weight fell on Andrew's foot at 
weightlifting.  Nick had to take him to Urgent Care for X-rays. 
Fortunately, no fractures, but a deep bruise.  Boot and crutches for a week or two.  Should
be ready for Lacrosse.

Will post pics from Ohio University next week.  
Hoping for a sign from Melissa!! 

It was a great week.  We are exhausted, get a week off before we have more games, then 
March Madness!!  Hoping some of our teams move on in the tournament.
And as much as I'll miss the games...when they are over, SPRING is here.
And Lacrosse starts for Andrew and Max. WOO HOO!! CAN'T WAIT!!

Enjoy!

GO IRISH!!!

GO FIREBIRDS!!!

GO ILLINI!!!

GO ZIPS!!!

GO BOBCATS!!!




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