Washington girls’s soccer star Mia Hamant died on the age of 21 following a battle with Stage 4 kidney most cancers, the college introduced Thursday.
“Mia was the guts of our program — somebody who lifted up everybody round her along with her pleasure, braveness, and kindness,” Washington coach Nicole Van Dyke mentioned in a college launch. “Even in essentially the most tough moments, she confirmed an unshakable spirit that impressed her teammates and coaches each single day. Mia made us all higher individuals, and her influence will likely be felt on this program and in all of our lives perpetually.”
Hamant, a goalie, realized in April that she had been recognized with Stage 4 SMARCB1-deficient kidney most cancers, a uncommon and aggressive kind.
The Corte Madera, Calif. native skilled lingering respiratory points at the moment that led her to go to an emergency room and endure testing, and he or she was knowledgeable that she might have autoimmune illness, an an infection or most cancers, she advised Washington’s scholar paper, The Every day, this Could.
She posted a photograph of her in a hospital room supported by these nearer to her in Could whereas explaining the difficult highway that lied forward.
“Every part occurs for a motive🧡. When you advised me a month in the past i’d be recognized with and combating most cancers i’d have laughed in your face, however right here we’re,” Hamant wrote on Could 5.
“April 11 i used to be recognized with non sickle cell SMARCB1-deficient renal medullary carcinoma (RMC). that is an especially uncommon kidney most cancers that was attributable to nothing greater than unhealthy luck. Since then, my family and friends have pushed me to get by way of all of the challenges that include this prognosis. whereas my regular life has been placed on pause, i’ve been in a position to get higher and begin to really feel like myself once more.
“My household has finished a lot for me and now i need to do one thing to assist them. here’s a hyperlink to a go fund me that was created to assist my household and me: thanks to everybody to your assist🫶🏻.”
The Go Fund Me web page has raised over $135,000 for Hamant, who missed her senior season this yr whereas she battled the illness.
Hamant emerged as a star in her junior season after lacking her freshman yr as a result of damage and showing in a single recreation her sophomore season.
“Mia’s situation is so uncommon that many medical services could solely see a single case per yr,” the Go Fund Me web page states. “Mia has at all times been one among one — identified for her grit, fearless spirit, aggressive fireplace, and the flexibility to raise everybody round her. She leads with coronary heart, toughness, and an authenticity that conjures up all who know her. She has by no means backed down from a problem, and he or she gained’t now.”
Hamant’s teammates wore orange patches on their jerseys to assist her, and he or she remained constructive whereas she started chemotherapy.
She made an look in a wheelchair on the soccer group’s 42-25 dwelling win over Illinois on Oct. 25 with a “Huskies for a Remedy” theme, dealing with the normal siren sounding.
The NCAA posted pictures of her on the recreation to its Instagram account, stating how she served as an inspiration.
Hamant just lately posted to Instagram a carousel that she captioned “proof of life,” that includes her with associates and exploring.
“My aim with remedy is to discover a strategy to get again to my each day life as a 20-year-old,” Hamant advised The Every day in Could. “Simply residing my on a regular basis life, residing at my faculty home, and being unbiased totally.”
The college mentioned it can launch particulars relating to a memorial or celebration of life.
“Mia’s legacy and spirit will perpetually stay part of the College of Washington. Her coronary heart, selflessness and resilience impressed everybody,” the college mentioned in its assertion.
“Mia’s braveness, optimism and beauty touched the lives of the whole Husky neighborhood. She is going to at all times function an inspiration for everybody whose life she was in a position to contact.
