Nicole Becker
Nicole (left) and Victoria.
Nicole Becker is deceptively tough.
To the outside world, she is the prototypical cheerleader, bubbly and quick to smile, always at the forefront of every cheer routine. During her days at Coupeville High School (she graduated in June), she rose through the ranks to become a captain during her senior season.
But the days since she left school have been some of the hardest of her young life. The unexpected death of her older sister, Victoria, followed by major surgery that has sidelined her for weeks, have delivered a one-two punch that could knock down the strongest of souls.
As she has fought her way back, she has taken great comfort in her faith and drawn on the support of family and friends.
And that’s something we all need to remember. This is a time when if you know Nicole, you need to let her know that you care about her. That she is not alone in her journey. That a school, a town, are always here for her.
We don’t forget our own. We can’t. We need to be there for her, both at the good times and the bad.
From her couch (which she is largely restricted to right now), Becker offered her thoughts on the events in her life. Take a moment to read them, then, if you can, reach out to her. Let her know we care.
Pre-surgery there is a cartilage in your hip that holds your hip in socket and I tore it. Surgery: it was painful like no end.
There was more damage in my hip than the doctor expected to find once he was inside, so I have 18 surgical stitches inside my hip socket holding it together. My doctor is very confident that it will not lead to a hip replacement later in life.
Recovery: I spend 80% of my day laying on a couch just because every movement hurts.
I wrap my hip in ice to help with swelling and inflammation. There is also the CPM machine. Which is a continuous progressive movement machine that raises my leg up and down, to prevent scar tissue.
I attend physical therapy three times a week to build up the strength back in my hip and my leg.
My sister: this has been the hardest three months in my life.
My sister has been hospitalized before but nothing compares to walking in the emergency room and having the EMTs tell you they did everything they could. That day still plays in my head and just wondering where it went wrong.
But this Coupeville community is the most amazing community I’ve ever been a part of. So many people have reached out to me; to know people that you don’t know care for you is the most amazing feeling.
It will be hard but as God put us on this earth with imperfections he takes us up to him completely perfect with nothing holding us down.
My sister had special needs. To the point where she needed full time care.
And to know she is in a place where she can run through dandelion fields and laugh and smile free of the chains holding her is such a peaceful thought.
She’s my best friend and will forever be my best friend.
But I am overwhelmed by the love this community has given to my family and I. I am overjoyed with it in such a somber time.
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