Shelby Township freshman Kyle Nicholson dies after struggle with leukemia

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Despite being diagnosed with leukemia, Kyle Nicholson never lost his sense of humor or positive attitude.

After a six-month battle with acute myeoblastic leukemia, the 19-year-old Shelby Township freshman died July 7.

“He was an absolutely fabulous person who touched people’s lives,” said his mother Elaine Nicholson. “He was a very special person in a positive way.”

She said he was an avid sports lover, especially of football, which he played while attending Eisenhower High School.

His athleticism made it particularly strange when he started experiencing bouts of fatigue, she said. He was diagnosed with the disease after tests were done in February.

Friends and family came together to help Nicholson after the diagnosis. Shelby Township sophomore Sam Licari said they formed “Team Kyle,” holding fundraisers at a Shelby Township Buffalo Wild Wings, a penny drive and a spaghetti supper to raise money for treatments and medical bills.

They also held bone marrow drives, including one at Sweeney Hall, in an attempt to find a transplant match for Nicholson.

Nicholson was set to recieve a transplant in about a month if his white blood cell counts were good, said Brian Piper of Shelby Township, a friend of 17 years. But his health took a turn for the worse.

“He was a fun guy that liked to goof around and always had a smile on his face,” Piper said. “No matter what, he was smiling.”

In order to show solidarity during Nicholson’s fight with leukemia, Piper and some of Nicholson’s other friends shaved their heads.

Licari knew Nicholson since second grade, but didn’t become close with him until a couple years ago.

“He was very, very loving, he always cared about others before himself,” she said. “I lived right across the hall from him at CMU and we were always laughing.”

Nicholson’s funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on July 13 at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Shelby Township.