What began as an ordinary day for 9-year-old Nic McIver quickly turned into something life-changing. While roughhousing with his sister, Nic hit his wrist on a doorknob, a moment that seemed harmless until unusual swelling the size of a golf ball appeared. Concerned, his mother took him to the doctor. The diagnosis: Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer more commonly found in teenage boys, often in the femur.
The McIver family was referred to a specialist in Gainesville, one of the few oncologists in the country experienced with this form of cancer. Together, they built a plan: chemotherapy, recovery, and an uncertain future.
“At nine years old, I had no thoughts about mortality,” Nic remembers. “Or losing my arm.”
But the threat was real. To save Nic’s life and preserve the function of his arm, doctors had to remove his left radius. Thanks to the selfless decision of another family to say “yes” to donation, Nic received a bone graft from a young girl his same age. That precious gift replaced the bone cancer had claimed.
“I understood my life was going to be saved,” said Nic. “I didn’t have to think about starting the rest of my life without a limb. That would’ve been much harder on those around me.”
Through months of treatment, Nic found moments of joy. He took an Alaskan cruise through Make-A-Wish, went dog sledding, and was surrounded by the unwavering love of his family. His sisters shaved his head during chemo. Teachers came to his home so he could keep up with school. And even in the face of something frightening, he never felt afraid.
“Kind of scary things,” he said, “but I was so well loved and given so much help. I never felt like I suffered.”
As Nic healed, his experience sparked a passion for advocacy. He began sharing his story through Donate Life and Relay for Life, while his mother, inspired by the gift that saved her son, joined LifeNet Health, later continuing her work at a partnering eye bank.
At 14, another playful moment resulted in a broken arm. But the graft held strong. His doctor was able to repair it with a small piece of Nic’s own bone. That resilience became a metaphor for his life.
While contact sports were off limits during childhood, Nic found ways to stay active and engaged. In college, he joined a Quidditch team and played ultimate frisbee. While studying abroad in Japan, he discovered a love for mountain climbing and for teaching.
Now 27, Nic teaches at a Montessori school, sharing his energy, curiosity, and gratitude with the next generation. He also worked at an eye bank and spent time shadowing his former oncologist, deepening his desire to be a positive force in the lives of young people.
His journey is living proof of what a single donation can do. One young girl’s gift not only saved Nic’s life, it set him on a path to inspire, educate, and give back.
A single decision made in a moment of loss gave Nic a lifetime of opportunity. That’s the power of donation.