Teen rises to the occasion
Published: April 17, 2007
He didn’t know what was wrong, but Quinton Nichols knew he just didn’t feel right.
He tired too quickly and stayed weak for long periods. A lacrosse player since seventh grade, Nichols had his fair share of cuts and scrapes, but the spots that were spreading over his body were different.
“I was noticing a lot of bruises that shouldn’t have been (there),” he said.
Nichols went to the doctor to get some blood work done. It was June 2004, and the diagnosis was leukemia. More specifically, acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, a progressive, malignant disease of large numbers of immature white blood cells found in the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen and other organs.
A simple visit to the hospital became an extended stay for Nichols, now a senior at Rush-Henrietta High School. A portable catheter was embedded on the inside of his right shoulder for the chemotherapy treatments and to draw blood. In addition to fatigue, Nichols experienced nausea and hair loss, the physical impact of regular doses of radiation being pumped into his body to fight the cancer.
In solidarity, an older brother, Ben, and some of Ben’s friends, got a Mohawk haircut. His mom, Lisa, donated some of her hair to Locks of Love, a national nonprofit that gives hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who have lost hair for medical reasons.
Nichols had to quit lacrosse, his body unable to bear the physical demands of the sport.
Last month, Nichols, 17, was among 26 students inducted into the 2007 Henrietta Youth Hall of Fame. Students are selected based on school, church and/or community involvement while overcoming significant personal challenges.
The inductees “represent the best of Henrietta youth,” said Regis Steincamp, director of the Henrietta town Recreation Department and Youth Bureau.
The Hall of Famers are given an induction certificate, treated to a black-tie dinner and ceremony and take a group photo that hangs for one year in Henrietta Town Hall.
“These kids rise to the occasion for their families, are good students and are active in their communities,” said Steincamp, adding that the Hall of Fame is “the thing I look forward to. It gives us a chance to celebrate youth in our community.”
More than two years later, Nichols is progressing. The chemotherapy has been reduced to once a week and is scheduled to end in July. His hair has returned. He’s also looking forward to a family vacation in the Florida Keys in May, compliments of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The disease forced Nichols to be home-schooled most of his junior year. Despite being away from school, his grades never dropped, and he is a National Honor Society student, said his school counselor, Chad Weisensel, who nominated him for the Hall of Fame.
“He’s done phenomenal,” said Weisensel.
Nichols will initially attend Monroe Community College and hopes to enroll in medical school and major in hematology.
His volunteer time has also expanded to the pediatric outpatient clinic at Strong Memorial Hospital. The kids there have all been diagnosed with some form of cancer, and Nichols has bonded with a 5-year-old boy who idolizes him, his mom said.
Before his diagnosis, Nichols knew very little about ALL and its effects. Now, “I know so much more about it,” he said. “I’m feeling a lot better. I don’t regret anything I had to go through.”
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