My name is Lauryn Hicks and I play for the NKU softball team. Softball has always been a great passion of mine since I was a little girl. I have been playing competitive softball since I was around 10 years old. I always was very competitive, especially when I played sports. At the school playground I would play games like wiffle ball, tag, and flag football. In softball, I would dive, run into the fence, slide on the bases, and do everything any other aggressive player would do. 

While softball has always been a big part of my life, medical hardships have been too. I was born six and a half weeks prematurely, weighing 4 lbs and 11 ounces. I remained in the hospital for a little over a month, remaining on oxygen for six weeks after I arrived at home. At age three, I had a spiral fracture of my right femur while practicing soccer. During this time, we were not fully aware of my bleeding condition, but I experienced a thorough struggle of the bone healing process. In the second grade, I got my tonsils and adenoids removed. I had to receive blood work before the procedure was done. The doctors returned from the lab after they checked my clotting factor and delayed my procedure until I had spoken to a hematologist. The hematologist conducted many labs and discovered my delayed clotting factor. 

For simple procedures such as the removal tonsils and adenoids, many children are able to go home that same day. Because the doctors had to give me specific medication to increase blood clotting, I had to stay overnight after that surgery. In fourth grade, I had a kidney biopsy conducted for other medical reasons. After that biopsy was conducted, I could not play any sports for three weeks. This biopsy also caused a huge increase of clotting developments.

By the time I was 12, I found that I had been diagnosed with a blood disorder. I was diagnosed with Von Willebrand Disease, a genetic disease caused by a defective Von Willebrand factor, or clotting protein. I played other sports growing up, such as volleyball and basketball. I really enjoyed basketball and wanted to follow in the footsteps of my dad, Derek Hicks, who played at Jacksonville State. In sixth grade when I was diagnosed, my doctors did not recommend certain sports, such as basketball, with my bleeding disorder due to an increased risk to injury. Since basketball is a more aggressive sport and a contact heavy sport, I was advised not to play. This upset me because I didn’t want to disappoint my dad by not playing basketball. Although I did not follow in his footsteps, he was completely supportive of my choice. I played volleyball in high school as well, but all the diving on the hard floor caused lots of bruising, so that played a factor in not continuing that sport as well. Some of the risks mentioned by my doctors of playing volleyball and basketball included, bruising, bleeding of my joints, and nose bleeds.

Since attending NKU, I have had the best support and care of my condition. After the recruiting process was over, my mom was still concerned with her ability to take care of me in the instance of injury while I was at college. While I was playing travel ball, I was always accompanied by at least one parent or my Auntie Anne in case of injury. She was upset over the fact that she would not be able to attend every softball game in the spring and attend to my care if need be. My mom then discussed my blood disorder with Coach Gleason and my athletic trainer McKenna to make them more aware of the situation. My coaches and athletic department staff are now all aware of my disorder and are very supportive of my physical activity. 

These medical setbacks have pushed me to work very hard to get to the level I am at now. Von Willebrand Disease has changed my life. I am so thankful that I get to play the sport that I love at NKU. This opportunity is something that I will cherish for a lifetime. I am so grateful that softball is something I can do that has incorporated all aspects of my life.

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