Over the past few months, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and his family have clearly faced major challenges.
Spoelstra’s wife, Nikki Sappelstra, is a serious, fast-growing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on Friday after her son Santiago had an unexpected intestinal surgery the day after her fourth birthday. Announced that he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma.
The cancer required months of chemotherapy at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, but Sapp revealed that the cancer in Santiago was in remission. She informed that Santiago’s treatment was over, including a video of Santiago leaving the ward and preparing to ring the bell.
Sapp full caption:
The day after his fourth birthday, his son underwent an unexpected operation. Intussusception.
A lump was found. I thought it was “benign”. It must be benign.
A week later he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. In the days, weeks, months that followed … he endured (and succeeded in) chemotherapy.
He … and still so .. very brave. He did not lose joy. So many friends and loved ones have confirmed that none of us did.
Yesterday our big boy rang the bell at Nicklaus’ Gun Wing, and the gratitude I feel is overwhelming. Remission.
My family and I are very grateful to his pediatrician, surgeon, doctor, nurse, entire child life team, and all Nicklaus staff for taking care of our boys .. And our family too. There were a lot of tears, but all these special people confirmed that they had a lot of smiles and all the love and support that went around. I really don’t have enough words. Simply … Thank you 🤍
One day I would like to be more open about this and create a necessary and meaningful dialogue on the subject of childhood cancer and what it means to me to be a parent in this situation.
For now, I’m just grateful.
Happy friday. God is good.
Spoelstra I went to the match in late March One of his children was receiving medical treatment, but no details were included at that time.
Spoelstras currently has two children, Santiago and his younger brother Dante, whose third child is a girl. Currently in progress..
