Cancer is a terrible thing. It can destroy lives and loving relationships, creating terrible pain and heartache. But for this week’s Fox 4 Reaching 4 Excellence Young Achiever, taking on cancer has been the catalyst for extraordinary personal accomplishments and contributions to help others.
Two years ago around this time he was on top of the world. Nick Hibbeler was getting ready to start his junior year at Park Hill High School and was on the radar of major colleges and universities to get a scholarship to play soccer and study. Suddenly, it all came crashing down.
“Testicular cancer,” says Nick, matter-of-factly. A routine physical for sports picked it up. It was scary – and deeply disappointing for a teenager thoroughly focused on getting a scholarship to a top soccer school and one day becoming a professional soccer player.
“I knew my junior year was a make it or break it year and when that happened I was just devastated,” says Nick.
Nick had surgery to remove his left testicle. Months of chemotherapy followed that sapped his strength with every treatment. Nick also had surgery to remove nearly two dozen lymph nodes and then an operation to resolve mysterious large buildups of fluid that kept happening in his abdomen. Through it all, Nick kept playing as much soccer as he could. And he emerged from his trial as the champion he always had been.
“It was like a test for me,” says Nick. “It was to see how mentally and physically determined I could be to overcome this obstacle in my life.”
Nick after his surgery and then, back on the field during his fight and treatment
“It was extraordinary watching him push through this and like it was no big deal,” says Josh Marchbank, Nick’s varsity soccer coach at Park Hill High.
“What he went through as a 16 and 17 year old kid is something, if I had gone through that situation it would have broken my spirit,” says Marchbank “It would have torn me to pieces. And Nick is the kind of kid, he went through it chest out, chin up, took every obstacle head on.”
“I told myself, I can either make this a negative situation or I can make it a positive,” says Nick. “And I looked at all the people that had helped me become cancer free and I wanted to give back to others.”
One way Nick has done that is by creating Check 2, a project to educate boys and young men about testicular cancer. Nick has started doing presentations about it joined by his father, Greg Hibbeler. Nick’s also led charity soccer matches that raised $9,000 to help children’s cancer causes. And he’s reached out to connect with other young people challenged by cancer or other serious health issues. As Nick made his long, often difficult journey through treatment and recovery, a phenomenal thing happened. People locally and nationally began discovering Nick. They found out about his drive and his will and his determination to turn his challenge into something positive to help others. Significant honors, recognition and awards have mounted up for Nick. And so has money for college. Among the many, he’s earned one of the ten national AXA Achievement Awards that go to outstanding young people in the U.S. and the $25,000 college scholarship that comes with it. The Kansas City Sports Commission named him Sprint Community Champion this year. And USA Today selected him as a Top 10 Most Inspirational Athlete of 2014.
Nick Hibbeler, cancer survivor, Reaching for Excellence
“Honestly, this might sound strange but I’m blessed to have received cancer because it changed my life forever,” says Nick. “I beat all this stuff that happened to me. I’m happy it happened to me at a young age because now I have my whole life and a certain vision and I can just keep pushing forward. And truly, it’s mentally and physically challenged me to become a better person.”
And Nick got his treasured D-1 scholarship. He’ll play soccer and study at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this fall. And he’ll keep pushing forward with Check 2 to raise awareness about testicular cancer.
FOX 4 News is Working 4 You to spotlight outstanding young people and their positive accomplishments. In our weekly report called Reaching 4 Excellence we meet young achievers in subjects like academics, the arts, leadership, community service, volunteerism, career exploration, overcoming obstacles and heroism. Watch for Reaching 4 Excellence every Wednesday on Fox 4 News at 9 p.m. and every Thursday on Fox 4 News at 8 a.m. and noon.
Phil Witt, Fox 4 News
phil.witt@wdaftv4.com
