Disabato: Sam Coverick profitable battle of his life off the basketball courtroom

Sam Coverick become having fun with the first month of his senior year at Lincoln-method East.

He become attending Friday nighttime soccer video games. He went to homecoming. He was making lifelong recollections, all of the while conserving his grades with an eye towards the basketball season.

Coverick was hoping to problem for a beginning position at guard.

"Senior yr is meant to be your most useful yr of high college," Coverick noted. "i was having fun. i was inserting a lot of effort into my AP courses and getting capable for the basketball season. however then my world changed into grew to become the other way up."

In a blink of a watch.

Coverick turned into getting over a cold within the middle of September when he observed a lump on his neck.

initially, he did not think plenty of it.

"I gave it every week and it nevertheless failed to go away," Coverick said. "I brought it to my mom's consideration, and correct away she took me to see a physician."

After a series of exams, Coverick changed into clinically determined with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. it's a sort of cancer that compromises the body's capacity to combat an infection.

Coverick become sleeping on a Saturday morning when his mom lower back domestic with the prognosis.

"I awoke to see my mother's crying face," Coverick mentioned. "I knew i was in for a protracted adventure. i used to be in shock. I not ever had any fitness concerns up to that aspect. i was scared."

Coverick instantly become scheduled to endure five cycles of chemotherapy. each cycle lasts 21 days. the first day requires forty one/2 hours of getting an IV caught in his physique pumping in medication.

The facet outcomes were brutal.

"i have been nauseous, had fevers, lack of urge for food," he observed. "I've misplaced my hair. It wipes you out. You don't even need to get off the sofa."

The one thing Coverick's docs insisted he do turned into are attempting to live as near a traditional lifestyles as possible while present process chemo.

Coverick made it to DeKalb to cheer on East right through its classification 8A soccer state championship victory over Loyola. he's additionally been attending basketball practices and games when he feels up for it.

East educate rich Kolimas has marveled at Coverick's determination.

"it be magnificent to me," Kolimas talked about. "you could tell he is wiped out from the chemo, however he's still out there making an attempt to do drills. a fantastic youngster. he's been an proposal."

Teammate Joey Buggemi is one of Sam's closest friends. The news hit Buggemi notably difficult.

"it be devastating to look him move through this," Buggemi spoke of. "he's a robust adult. he is been an incredible proposal to me, my teammates and the complete school. Seeing this take place to one among my most effective friends has modified me. This may happen to any one."

If there may be one aspect Coverick would want to see come out of his sickness is for individuals, peculiarly teenagers, to now not take existence with no consideration. treat others with kindness and admire. don't take household and friends as a right.

"I've learned to recognize issues much more," Coverick referred to.

I do have first rate news to file. On Nov. 14, Coverick became counseled his melanoma changed into in remission. It turned into an emotional moment for his family — an early Christmas current to a kid who has impressed others by way of his resolution and toughness.

"i used to be crying, my folks were both crying, and my brother, who was in from school, he was crying," Coverick spoke of. "It become excellent information."

He nonetheless has two greater cycles of chemotherapy to endure, however's nothing he can't tackle.

"I've missed loads of school, however Lincoln-means East has been very, very good to me," Coverick pointed out. "My academics were retaining me on target. My family unit has been so supportive. I even have a pretty good care team at the (college of Chicago Comers) medical institution.

"You go through whatever like this and also you see how decent individuals basically are. i have been blessed."

pdisabato@tribpub.com

Twitter @disabato

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