Disabato: Sam Coverick winning battle of his life off the basketball court
Sam Coverick
Sam Coverick  was enjoying the first month of  his  senior year at Lincoln-Way East.
 He  was attending Friday night football games.  He  went to homecoming.  He  was making lifelong memories  all the while maintaining  his  grades with an eye toward the basketball season.
 Coverick  was hoping to challenge for a starting position at guard.
"Senior year is supposed to be your best year of high school  " Coverick  said. "I was having fun. I was putting a lot of effort into my AP classes and getting ready for the basketball season. But then my world was turned upside down."
 Coverick  was getting over a cold in the middle of September when  he  noticed a lump on  his  neck.
At first   he  didn't think much of  it .
"I gave  it  a week and  it  still didn't go away  " Coverick  said. "I brought  it  to my mom's attention  and right away she took me to see a doctor."
After a series of tests   Coverick  was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's a type of cancer that compromises the body's ability to fight infection.
 Coverick  was sleeping on a Saturday morning when  his  mother returned home with the diagnosis.
"I woke up to see  my mom's crying face " Coverick  said. "I knew I was in for a long journey. I was in shock. I never had any health issues up to that point. I was scared. "
The one thing  Coverick 's doctors insisted he do was try to live as close to a normal life as possible while undergoing chemo.
 Coverick  made  it  to DeKalb to cheer on East during  its  Class 8A football state championship victory over Loyola.  He 's also been attending basketball practices and games when  he  feels up for  it .
East coach Rich Kolimas has marveled at  Coverick 's determination.
"It's amazing to me " Kolimas said. "You can tell  he 's wiped out from the chemo  but  he 's still out there trying to do drills. An incredible kid.  He 's been an inspiration."
"It's devastating to see  him  go through this " Buggemi said. " He 's a strong person.  He 's been a huge inspiration to me  my teammates and the entire school. Seeing this happen to one of my best friends has changed me. This could happen to anyone."
If there's one thing  Coverick  would like to see come out of  his  illness is for people  particularly teenagers  to not take life for granted. Treat others with kindness and respect. Don't take family and friends for granted.
[TGT] was enjoying the first month of   [TGT]   senior year at Lincoln-Way East.
  [TGT]   was attending Friday night football games.   [TGT]   went to homecoming.   [TGT]   was making lifelong memories  all the while maintaining   [TGT]   grades with an eye toward the basketball season.
  [TGT] was hoping to challenge for a starting position at guard.
"Senior year is supposed to be your best year of high school   [TGT] said. "I was having fun. I was putting a lot of effort into my AP classes and getting ready for the basketball season. But then my world was turned upside down."
 Coverick  was getting over a cold in the middle of September when  he  noticed a lump on  his  neck.
At first   he  didn't think much of  it .
"I gave  it  a week and  it  still didn't go away   [TGT] said. "I brought  it  to my mom's attention  and right away she took me to see a doctor."
After a series of tests    [TGT] was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's a type of cancer that compromises the body's ability to fight infection.
  [TGT] was sleeping on a Saturday morning when   [TGT]   mother returned home with the diagnosis.
"I woke up to see  my mom's crying face  [TGT] said. "I knew I was in for a long journey. I was in shock. I never had any health issues up to that point. I was scared. "
The one thing   [TGT]  's doctors insisted  [TGT]  do was try to live as close to a normal life as possible while undergoing chemo.
  [TGT] made   [TGT]   to DeKalb to cheer on East during   [TGT]   Class 8A football state championship victory over Loyola.   [TGT]  's also been attending basketball practices and games when   [TGT]   feels up for  it .
East coach Rich Kolimas has marveled at  Coverick 's determination.
"It's amazing to me " Kolimas said. "You can tell   [TGT]  's wiped out from the chemo  but   [TGT]  's still out there trying to do drills. An incredible kid.   [TGT]  's been an inspiration."
"It's devastating to see   [TGT]   go through this " Buggemi said. "  [TGT]  's a strong person.   [TGT]  's been a huge inspiration to me  my teammates and the entire school. Seeing this happen to one of my best friends has changed me. This could happen to anyone."
If there's one thing  Coverick  would like to see come out of  his  illness is for people  particularly teenagers  to not take life for granted. Treat others with kindness and respect. Don't take family and friends for granted.