Keeping her mind off the pain

Doug Janik becomes friends with 12-year-old cancer patient Nikki Hawkins.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published December 25, 2007

It took Nikki Hawkins several minutes to explain why she ... so ... much ... likes Lightning defenseman Doug Janik.

"He spends time with me even though he's so busy," Nikki said.

"He helps me out."

Nikki was about to hang up her mom's cell phone when she said to a caller, "Wait, wait, wait. He's also cute."

Nikki, who is 12 and lives in Carrollwood, met Janik last year at the Lightning's annual Christmas party for children with cancer and their families. It was happenstance, because players are randomly assigned to sit with guests.

And it was the beginning of a friendship between Janik, Nikki and her family that proves the spirit of the season can be applied all year long.

"I've been fortunate to have a pretty healthy family," said Janik, 27. "And I'm fortunate in my life where I am right now to get a chance to maybe give back and help out a little bit."

Janik has kept up with Nikki through notes of encouragement in the guest book on her Web site, caringbridge.org/visit/nikkihawkins.

There was a Christmas present, a birthday present and chats after games.

When Nikki went to the hospital last summer with a bacterial infection in her arm, Janik sent her a very trendy Vera Bradley bag.

Most important, though, was the support.

"He took her mind off being sick," said Nikki's mom, Penny. "He made her feel special. He is an angel."

Said Janik: "Nikki is one of the strongest people I've ever met. She's so young to have dealt with so much, and she's mature beyond her years."

Penny said Nikki was diagnosed in April 2006 with a brain tumor the size of a racquetball.

Surgery removed it, and 14 months of chemotherapy and 31 days of radiation on her brain and spine made sure she is cancer free.

Still, Penny said that Nikki, a seventh-grader at Orange Grove Middle Magnet School, is at therapy four times a week "to deal with deficits caused by the surgery."

Nikki has "balance issues," Penny said. "And her right side doesn't work like it used to. She used to be right-handed. Now she writes with her left."

But it hasn't dampened her spirit or those of brothers Jared, 9, and William, 3.

"They have such a positive outlook on life," Janik said of the family. "It's just an endearing factor the way they've handled it."

As for Nikki, he said, "She's definitely outgoing. She's not afraid of much."

On Dec. 6, Nikki sang the national anthem before a Lightning game at the St. Pete Times Forum. Penny said Nikki performed a dance routine at school while sitting in a wheelchair she generally uses only when fatigued.

Penny said such moments are precious because "we would go to games and she would be so sick she could hardly sit through them. We'd go downstairs just to say hello to (Janik)."

Now Nikki goes to games wearing a shirt with the words "Got Janik" on the front.

"I love it," she said, "because he's such a nice person."

Cute.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 24, 2007, 20:14:59]