(Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
Lacey Holsworth was the darling of the NCAA Tournament. She enjoyed the time of her life by rooting her Michigan State Spartans on at Madison Square Garden just two weeks ago. Even though the Spartans failed to go to the Final Four, she was there as a guest of Michigan State’s Adreian Payne in Arlington to enjoy the Final Four games just last weekend.
Watching her the last few weeks, it comes as a shock Holsworth passed away early Wednesday morning. The eight-year-old girl died of cancer.
Yes, Holsworth was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, which is a fetal-nerve cell cancer. It was inevitable she was going to die. Still, the thought was she could have beaten this cancer for awhile. For her to die at eight years old, it’s depressing.
This one hit me. Not only because I root for the Spartans, but to see a young girl dead without getting a chance to grow as a person is not fair. No one should die this young. It’s something her parents and her brothers are going to have a hard time coming to terms for a very long time. This is even going to be tougher for Payne after he invested so much of his life in her.
It makes one be cynical about cure for cancer when reading about Holsworth’s death. For stories about celebrities and athletes surviving cancer for so long, there are many stories about kids losing to cancer at such a young age.
Just reading about Holsworth’s battle with cancer and looking at her pictures on Instagram can make one smile yet cry at the same time. It’s been tough reading through it and looking at it. One can only ask why it would happen to her and other innocent kids that might have been diagnosed with cancer.
Holsworth never felt sorry for herself when she was diagnosed with cancer. She approached life to the fullest. She was always focused on each day rather than fretting for the worse. Maybe she was oblivious to her condition, but that’s a good thing if that was the case. There’s no point being miserable about an unfortunate fate.
It helped she had friends who took care of her. It helped she had people who cared for her well-being. That’s why she was able to enjoy life while she was living.
It wasn’t only her parents that did their part in taking care of her. It was the Spartans and Payne that made her enjoy life while she was alive.
Payne befriended Holsworth after the Spartans visited kids in Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital two years ago. He took interest in her when he found out she had cancer. He wanted to make a difference in her life, and he certainly did by talking to her and texting her often. He made her feel important by inviting her to his games at the Breslin Center along with having her celebrate with his teammates.
Looking at the pictures of Payne being around Holsworth, it was clear he was proud to be associated with her. It came from the heart rather than him trying to look good. She appreciated the gesture just by smiling when he was in her company. It was an illustration of what a friend is. It was an illustration of one enjoying the moment.
The image of Holsworth cutting down the nets with Payne in the Big 10 Tournament along with her standing with Payne on Senior Night is what symbolizes the Spartans this season. Her story brought the Spartans together in a way they were trying to win a national championship for her.
It would have been nice if she celebrated a national championship with Payne this season, but there are no storybook endings in sports. But as Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said in an campus vigil in Holsworth’s honor last night, the Spartans came out as champions just for making her feel big and important. That’s something to be said about character in a world where championships are the be all and end all, and that’s where Izzo gets it.
Payne had a phenomenal run in his four years as a Spartan basketball player, but he will be remembered for making a difference in Holsworth’s life. What he did is something no one can put a price on. The memories can never be taken away. He should be proud of himself for what he has done on and off the court.
When one looked at the great moments Holsworth had with the Spartans, one can only ask why she deserved this unfortunate fate. Innocent kids dying of cancer each year is a question that has to be asked even if it’s hard to answer.
Holsworth gave it a good fight, and that’s something that has to be remembered. She even beat cancer once after she was told she had two weeks to leave in 2011. She was paralyzed at one point. But she was able to walk again in a miracle fashion.
Unfortunately, cancer came back. One can only ask why it happened.
Holsworth should be remembered for how she fought cancer and how she never felt sorry for herself. She was an inspiration for the Spartans this season with the way she was upbeat in handling her condition.
Princess Lacey’s absence will be a huge void when watching a Spartans home game. Her enthusiasm and personality can’t be replaced. She was one of a kind. It was a thrill and an honor to watch her all season long.
Why she has to be taken away?
Contact or follow Leslie Monteiro at @LightRodWriter
Related Posts From Lightning Rod Sports
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
