You may be aware of the awesome season that Mike Nelson had last year at Wasatch Beach, winning every open division tourney he entered, the Steamboat Doubles and both summer leagues. You may or may not know what has happened since. Mike's words follow.
Let me start off by saying thank you to everyone who made the 2009 season possible at Wasatch Beach. From the new courts at The Sports Mall, to the many tournaments, leagues and camps, it was great to see so many people come out and enjoy the sport of sand volleyball.
As some of you know, last November I was diagnosed with stage 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, centered on the left side of my neck. Just weeks after our sand season ended here in Utah I was going through aggressive treatment in the form of three rounds of chemotherapy and 18 radiation sessions.
The diagnosis was very unexpected and the treatment was difficult. However, it proved to be a very positive experience for those close to me because it put everything into perspective.
During my cancer treatment I received a lot of support from the volleyball community. I continued to play volleyball throughout my treatments, which I think helped me maintain a positive attitude. A number of you let me know of your concern, and a few of you even shaved your head in my honor. (Thanks to Casey Adams for organizing Team Mikey on facebook.) I even had messages from Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who let me know that they were pulling for me. My brother Dan had contacted them without my knowledge, and they sent me handwritten letters.
It was awesome to feel all the support. Thank you!
During my treatments I wondered if I would ever get back into top volleyball form. My family and I had made the decision to move to California in November to pursue volleyball on the professional level. The news that I had cancer came the day before we were to sign a lease in Huntington Beach.
Feeling alright through the course of my treatments, and strengthened by a positive prognosis, we decided we would still give it a shot for the 2010 season. I gained additional momentum when Maui Jim accepted my sponsorship request. Within a few weeks of my last radiation session and chemotherapy I was playing in the Fort Lauderdale AVP Qualifier with Casey Adams. Two weeks ago I competed in the AVP Qualifier in Santa Barbara and am looking ahead to the next Qualifier in our new hometown of Huntington Beach during the first week of June.
I look forward to what this season will bring. It has been a crazy couple of months for me, but I am happy to still be around, with the people I love, playing the sport that I love.
See you at the beach!
Let me start off by saying thank you to everyone who made the 2009 season possible at Wasatch Beach. From the new courts at The Sports Mall, to the many tournaments, leagues and camps, it was great to see so many people come out and enjoy the sport of sand volleyball.
As some of you know, last November I was diagnosed with stage 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, centered on the left side of my neck. Just weeks after our sand season ended here in Utah I was going through aggressive treatment in the form of three rounds of chemotherapy and 18 radiation sessions.
The diagnosis was very unexpected and the treatment was difficult. However, it proved to be a very positive experience for those close to me because it put everything into perspective.
During my cancer treatment I received a lot of support from the volleyball community. I continued to play volleyball throughout my treatments, which I think helped me maintain a positive attitude. A number of you let me know of your concern, and a few of you even shaved your head in my honor. (Thanks to Casey Adams for organizing Team Mikey on facebook.) I even had messages from Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who let me know that they were pulling for me. My brother Dan had contacted them without my knowledge, and they sent me handwritten letters.
It was awesome to feel all the support. Thank you!
During my treatments I wondered if I would ever get back into top volleyball form. My family and I had made the decision to move to California in November to pursue volleyball on the professional level. The news that I had cancer came the day before we were to sign a lease in Huntington Beach.
Feeling alright through the course of my treatments, and strengthened by a positive prognosis, we decided we would still give it a shot for the 2010 season. I gained additional momentum when Maui Jim accepted my sponsorship request. Within a few weeks of my last radiation session and chemotherapy I was playing in the Fort Lauderdale AVP Qualifier with Casey Adams. Two weeks ago I competed in the AVP Qualifier in Santa Barbara and am looking ahead to the next Qualifier in our new hometown of Huntington Beach during the first week of June.
I look forward to what this season will bring. It has been a crazy couple of months for me, but I am happy to still be around, with the people I love, playing the sport that I love.
See you at the beach!
Mike hitting around a block during the Santa Barbara AVP Qualifier.
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