Sing For Nicole
Scott Benner
The world lost a beautiful person when Nicole Wilson passed away from complications of her type I diabetes at the tender age of fifteen.
Nicole Wilson
Type I diabetes first appeared in the Wilson’s lives when Nicole was diagnosed at the age of two. The burden that type I brings to people and their loved ones is largely invisible to the outside world. It’s one of those things in life that defies explanation; you really can’t appreciate the unrelenting nature of acting as your own pancreas, twenty-four hours a day for the rest of your life, until you are forced to do it.
I learned about Nicole when a tweet that her sister Kelly sent went viral. Their parents, Chris and Deirdre, had the idea to contact Nicole’s favorite band, One Direction, to ask them if they would dedicate a song to Nicole at an upcoming concert held at the Dallas Cowboys stadium.
@OneDirection my sister was your biggest fan, she passed away the other night in her sleep due to complications of diabetes. For her bday we were supposed to attend the concert in Dallas. We had such amazing seats and she was so happy to see yall. Can you all do something special for her at the concert. Her fave song was Story of My Life, and that will be playing in her funeral video. #SingForNicole
I immediately found myself wanting to help the Wilson’s spread the word about Sing For Nicole, their story touched me greatly, as a parent, a diabetes advocate and the father of a little girl who was also diagnosed with type I diabetes at the age of two. I spoke with Kelly Wilson about her sister, type I, Camp Sweeney, #SingForNicole and the advocacy that is helping her family to cope with their loss.
Kelly told me that she wants to become a nurse; she found her passion for healthcare while attending diabetes camp with her sister. Camp Sweeney located in Whitesboro Texas, was Nicole’s home away from home for the last nine summers. A wonderful retreat where children living with type I can learn about their disease, experience the embrace of community and just be kids.
When Kelly first tweeted #SingForNicole she was just trying to help her parents by keeping Nicole’s beautiful energy in the world. Social media had different plans for her tweet. In no time #SingForNicole went viral nationwide and when it did, the Wilson’s goal began to grow.
They decided to try and raise three thousand dollars to send a child to Camp Sweeney as a way to help others and raise awareness. To date, they’ve raised over thirty-five thousand dollars, started a charity and are well on their way to creating a beautiful tribute to Nicole that will benefit children for years to come.
Kelly hopes that people will remember her sister’s smile, that she was the embodiment of boundless energy, a pure spirit who never let type I diabetes stop her from living her life to the fullest.
I hope that One Direction will take the stage later this summer at AT&T Stadium and Nicole’s favorite member; Niall Horan will step to the mic and dedicate her favorite song, ‘Story Of My Life’, to Nicole. I hope that the crowd chants “Sing for Nicole” and I’d love to see endless tweets adorned with the hashtag that was typed by her sister, as her family tried to imagine how to bring sense and meaning to the loss of their little girl.
Nicole wore this banana costume on Friday's at school while she made the morning announcements. 'Fruity Fridays' helped to promoted healthy snacks.
Please consider supporting the Wilson’s journey by helping them to send deserving children in need to Camp Sweeney. Be part of keeping the story of Nicole’s life trending, because when you do you’ll be supporting people everywhere who live each day with the uncertainty that type I diabetes brings.
Donate, tweet… sing for Nicole.
Sing For Nicole
Go Fund Me - Camp Sweeney
Camp Sweeney
Follow Kelly on Twitter - @KellyWilsonnn
#SingForNicole
One Direction on Twitter
Image from People.com
The Band - @OneDirection
Niall Horan - @NiallOfficial
Harry Styles - @Harry_Styles
Liam Payne - @Real_Liam_Payne
Louis Tomlinson - @ Louis_Tomlinson
Zayn Malik - @ZaynMalik