https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/top_story/article_b56ccf8a-8167-11e9-baac-5be6745721e1.html
Clissold mourns with Miceli Family
by Kyle Garmes May 28, 2019
Students at Clissold Elementary School join to mourn the death of Nicholas Miceli, the 2-year-old son of teacher Khrissy Miceli. He died on May 3 after battling cancer. Fellow faculty members said Khrissy showed strength and remained positive during her son's illness, and the school rallied behind her family by raising over $3,800 dunng a fundraiser in late March. (Review photo)
Gold ribbons adorn the fence in front of Clissold Elementary School on Western Avenue as a sign of love and support for Khrissy Miceli, a beloved teacher who is mourning the death of her son.
Miceli was on leave for several months while caring for Nicholas, her youngest child, during his battle with cancer, and during that time, the school has rallied around her and her family.
Nicholas, 2, died May 3 after fighting alveolar
rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) for almost his entire life, and the gold ribbons and a banner featuring his picture show that the Clissold community mourns along with the Miceli Family.
Inside the school, colleagues of Khrissy Miceli praised her for maintaining a warm and friendly personality in the classroom even as she dealt with her son's illness.
"She was super-strong the whole time with Nick's [battle]," said Megan Cottonaro, a special-education teacher who works in Miceli's classroom. "She was just very strong and very positive. Even for her own kids, she was super-strong and supportive."
Miceli teaches seventh- and eighth-grade English and language arts.
Khrissy and her husband, Frank, live in Mt. Greenwood and have five children, including Nicholas' siblings, Mia, Madeline "JoJo," Frankie and Vincent.
Nicholas was diagnosed with Stage 4 ARMS, which occurs in soft tissue such as muscles, on Aug. 11,2017.
Khrissy took leave during the 2017-18 school year to care for him, then returned for this school year. However, she took another leave in December, when his cancer returned.
According to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, ARMS affects the large muscles of the arms, legs and trunk. According to Stanford Children's Health, about 350 children in the U.S. every year are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which usually affects children under 10.
The community rallied behind the family with an online fundraiser that described Nicholas as "full of energy, giggles, playfulness and joy," and over $44,000 was donated.
Clissold raised over $3,800 in late March during a week-long fundraiser that included a dress-down day in which students donated $2. The Lane Family also hosted a lemonade stand.
At the dress-down day, students wore gold, representing the color for ARMS awareness, and formed giant ribbons in the school auditorium.
Even though this year Miceli's students only had her for a teacher for roughly a semester, they quickly realized that she provided a relaxed, yet respectful, atmosphere.
Last December, the funeral processions of two local Chicago police officers traveled passed Clissold. Miceli stressed the importance of being reverent to her students.
"She is a really good teacher," said eighth-grader Nora Sorenson. "She's always there for her students. . . She makes learning fun. It's always a positive mood when you walk into her classroom."
Debra Henderson, who teaches language and literature with Miceli, has known her for eight years. She said they work well together.
"I call her my partner in crime," Henderson said. "We work collaboratively; very close, so we pretty much have the same teaching styles. We think the same; we do the same. What can I say? ... she's just amazing."
Grace Van Cleave, a 2016 Clissold graduate, said Miceli looked out for every student and made subject matter relatable.
When reading one book, Van Cleave said, Miceli compared it to "The Climb," a song by Miley Cyrus that is popular with her students. It became the class song.
"In class, she always encourages students to speak their mind and be brave enough to not let other people's opinions intimidate you, even if you're outnumbered," Van Cleave said. "She's just a great leader, period. She always makes sure everyone is included and having fun, but more importantly, doing their job and cooperating with everyone."
Mary Gilmore, also a Class of 2016 graduate, said Miceli went above and beyond for students.
"She always encouraged class discussions, and she always made it really fun for us," Gilmore said. "She came to some of our basketball and volleyball games. She always came to the shows that we did. She was really invested in her students and making sure that we knew what we were doing."
Gilmore now attends Mother McAuley High School and still admires Miceli.
"She's still my favorite teacher to this day, and I'm a junior," Gilmore said. "I was always happy in that class. I always looked forward to going to it."
Gilmore graduated before Nicholas was born, but she attended his wake and shares his family's grief.
"It hurts my heart that such a good woman ... would have to go through that," Gilmore said. "She used to tell us stories about her other kids. She just sounded like a great mom, and Nick was really lucky for the two years that he was on this earth to have her as a mom."
Funeral services for Nicholas were held May 8 at Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to his parents and siblings, he is survived by his grandparents, Glen and Kathy Hicks and Donna and Vincent Miceli; his great-grandparents, Phyllis Hicks and Lou Dazzo; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and supporters of Nick's Fight.
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to any of the following organizations: The Mulliganeers, Friends of Uncle Mike, Assisting Hands, Pat Mac's Pack, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, Tom Hopkins Memorial Foundation, and Christmas Without Cancer.