Caidence Macke stood beside the Solon volleyball team during introductions, her heart racing as she felt the crowd’s attention fixed on her. She wasn’t a player of the team, rather an honoree on behalf of the school for its Cancer Awareness Night matchup against Center-Point Urbana.
She donned a beige hat to hide the effects of her chemotherapy. What was really under the hat was the resiliency of battling a life-threatening illness.
“When it was time to go up, I was getting really nervous,” Macke said. “I [didn’t] want to stand in front of the student section because all the boys are going to see me and think this is weird. But then it ended up being really good.”
Halfway through her freshman year, Macke was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer that develops from the muscle cells. The cross country, wrestling, and softball participant was forced to put sports aside as chemotherapy took over her life.
The process has been daunting for Macke. She experienced several side effects as a result of the chemotherapy, including weight and hair loss and nerve damage in her lower right leg. The Solon community has been supportive of Macke’s adversity and recovery from the very start, and the volleyball team’s Cancer Awareness Night was an extension of that.
Each player and coach from both teams were announced one-by-one along with a mention of a loved one whom they honored their play for.
“We’re here thinking of everyone that’s going through that cancer, and we’re here to support them,” said Solon head coach Ruben Galvan.
Those in attendance wore pink to support the fight, donated money to Solon’s cancer fund between the second and third sets and wrote encouraging messages honoring their loved ones on a paper bag with a plastic glowing lantern inside and lined them up outside the school’s front doors.
“When I first got [cancer], everyone was bringing me about 50 baskets a day. People would constantly be bringing me gifts, and I was just really grateful that people knew and were willing to support me,” Macke said. “Everyone’s been super nice, treating me as if I didn’t have [cancer]. Like I’m a normal person.”
And while Solon lost to Cedar-Point Urbana in a 3-2 bout, the night was a success. Some things are bigger than sports.
“I think the community has been great this year,” said Solon outside hitter Kiley Devery. “I think tonight, just making that big fundraising event was kind of our big hope, and I think it turned out great.”