FROM THE SAD NEWS DEPARTMENT:
'Princess Lacey,' friend of MSU's Payne, dies after battle with cancer
Adreian Payne walks on the floor for Michigan State senior night with Lacey Holsworth, an 8-year-old from St. Johns, in February. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Tom Izzo said when he’s out recruiting he’s looking
for difference-makers.
Little did he know he would find one in an 8-year-old
girl, and her relationship with one of his best players, Adreian Payne, would
prove Payne was one, too.
Lacey Holsworth, the young girl from St. Johns who
during her two-year battle with cancer befriended the entire Michigan State
basketball team and especially Payne, died on Wednesday.
Her family made the announcement with a post on
Lacey’s Instagram and Twitter accounts that read, “Princess Lacey has achieved
the ultimate victory. She now dances among angels. … The world is a better place
because you were in it. Our hearts are broken. We love you Doll. Dance all
night. … Mommy and Daddy, Will, Mitchell, and Luke. #LoveLikeLacey.”
The friendship between Payne and Holsworth became the
feel-good story of the NCAA Tournament as Lacey was with Payne to cut down the
nets after the team won the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. She also
traveled to New York for the East Regional and even went to Dallas last week for
the college dunk contest Payne took part in.
Izzo said he spoke with Payne early Wednesday
morning.
“I thought we had a little more time but I think in
last couple weeks he knew he didn’t,” Izzo said.
“The ironic or strange part
about it is she almost got to do everything she could do with him if you look at
last four weekends. She is at our place for senior night, she’s in Indy cutting
down the nets with him, she’s in New York with all the shows she was on, staying
in hotels. She was in our meeting room with us before we played UConn and then
got to go down to Dallas with him when he was in the dunk contest. So pretty
cool that he had that impact and helped her live eight short years.”
While in New York, the story of Payne and Lacey really
took off as she appeared on the Today Show and Good Morning America. Along the
way, the nation marveled at the commitment between the 23-year-old basketball
giant and the little girl.
“Everybody talks about what we can do for kids,” Izzo
said, “but it’s amazing what that little girl did for all of us, and that’s a
very good legacy to leave behind when you think of the impact she had on all
these big, strong, incredible athletes and this little tiny girl maybe impacted
them as much as anybody.
“Plus she was incredible for Adreian. This helped
teach me a lot and, as I told him, what an impact he can have on a person. You
can go lifetime and not impact somebody; people go a lifetime without really,
truly helping someone else -- and he did it (starting) at 21 years old. It’s
pretty cool.”
The pair met two years ago when the team visited
patients at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital. Lacey,
diagnosed with neuroblastoma, had
undergone surgery to remove a tumor on her spine and she and Payne quickly
became friends.
From there it grew.
They were together last spring when her cancer was in
remission and they attended a gala held by Dick Vitale to raise money and
awareness for cancer research. And they were together when the cancer returned
last fall.
Izzo remembered the day he and Payne went to the
hospital after Lacey had surgery in the fall. She wouldn’t wake up -- until
Payne showed up, that is.
“That visit was just amazing how she lit up to him,”
Izzo said.
She had been continuing to go through radiation
treatments as the tumors returned this winter and was set to begin a study at
the University of Michigan.
Through it all, their bond strengthened as she became
a fixture at Michigan State games, even joining Payne on the floor at the
Breslin Center for senior night after Michigan State’s final home game on March
6.
That was the last time Vitale got to see Lacey and the
news of her death devastated the ESPN analyst.
“It just breaks my heart,” said Vitale, who spoke with
Lacey’s father, Matt, on Wednesday morning. “No child should be put to rest at 8
years of age. It just tears my heart out.”
Vitale has been the forefront of raising money for
cancer research and in the nine years he has held his gala event, he has raised
$10.7 million. At last year’s event, Lacey and Payne were the stars.
“She was the star of stars last year,” Vitale said.
“She stole the show with Adreian and I will never forget her.”
He is also setting up a grant in Lacey’s name with the
goal of raising $250,000 by the time this year’s gala is held May 16. He said it
will take a couple of days to be set up, but donations can be made at
dickvitaleonline.com to the grant in Lacey’s name.
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis issued a
statement on Lacey’s passing:
“Today, our Michigan State family mourns the loss of
8-year-old Lacey Holsworth. Our thoughts and prayers are with her parents, Matt
and Heather, as well as her three brothers, Will, Mitchell and Luke.
“It’s remarkable how many lives Lacey touched in her
short life here on earth. She had a zest for living and was so courageous in her
battle against cancer. Lacey impacted not only our Spartan basketball program
but the entire university community. And through her special relationship with
Adreian Payne, Lacey captured the hearts of many people throughout our state and
nation. All people had to see was that radiant smile that could light up an
entire arena.
“Our hearts are heavy today, but we’ll never forget
the life lessons Princess Lacey taught us.”
There will be a memorial service for Lacey
Holsworth on Thursday, April 17 at the Breslin Center on Michigan State’s
campus. More details will be announced.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140409/SPORTS0202/304090032#ixzz2yPvnTaP0
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