By Carissa Parrish
The women’s lacrosse team’s faLike the “Relentless” tattoo across his shoulder blades, Michael Colleluori lives life with enough passion and heart for two people. It is a daily reminder of the journey that began last year when he felt the final heartbeat of teammate and older brother, Nick, as he died from Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
The 5’11” 185-pound junior midfielder has been a key player for Hofstra lacrosse since being recruited from Ridley High School in Pennsylvania where he was a state champion.
Mike or “Worm” as his friends dubbed him, always dreamt of playing Division I lacrosse. It became a reality when former Ridley and Hofstra graduate, Bret Moyer recruited both Mike and Nick.
As a freshman in 2006 he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team. In 2007, he was second on the team in goals and fourth in points under the most difficult of circumstances.
“I kind of got recruited by a lot of schools but I think my brother going to Hofstra had a lot to do with it,” says Colleluori. “Four boys and two loving parents – that’s what I’ve got and family is the most important things to me it’s how I was raised.”
For Colleluori, every day is about working hard and living with purpose, but when a moment frees up he quickly finds something to do.
“I’m like one of those kids who never gets tired. I love music, I’m good at guitar, I’m like a little kid,” says Colleluori whose passions also include break dancing and reading.
He mentions “Monster” the book he’s recently started reading. He laughs, recounting the author’s tales of gang activity like a giddy kid who knows he’s heard something bad. For Colleluori, free time is rare but he doesn’t mind.
Colleluori balances 12-hour days leaving only Friday to rest in the mornings before practice. He is working hard to achieve goals for himself and for Nick.
Last spring he maintained a 3.4 GPA despite being home with Nick. He is the president of the HEADstrong foundation which Nick designed while being treated. The organization raises awareness for blood cancer and money for families in need, much like the Colleluori’s were.
“The foundation is my life right now; it helps keep Nick’s memory alive. We are still struggling without him.” Says Colleluori.
Nick and Mike have been described by peers as twins but for Mike it’s more than that.
“Whatever I do revolves around him. It goes lacrosse, HEADstrong, and schoolwork.” Colleluori says of his commitments.
Mike’s attitude has always been positive. Friend Shannon Bennet says “He’s one of the strongest guys I’ve ever met physically and mentally.”
The fall of 2006 was supposed to be the culmination of years of hard work. Mike and Nick would both be living their childhood dream of playing Division I lacrosse together.
They played for only two weeks before Nick returned home to get his adenoids removed.
Devastating news followed. Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. For the next two months Nick fought what he called the “relentless battle.”
After receiving a bone marrow transplant, Mike was hopeful his brother would make a full recovery. Nick made it to all but three games that season.
“We thought it was in remission, that’s what they told us. When he got rescanned after 60 days it was ten times worse than before.”
What followed were 14 months of intense treatment, prayer and life at his brother’s side.
“We were best friends, a year apart. In the fall of my sophomore year the doctors told my parents there was nothing else they could do. His body was intoxicated with chemicals and they couldn’t put anymore in.”
A family friend drove Mike home after practice that same day. He recalls seeing his older brother Dan vomiting in the hospital parking lot. Dan already knew the prognosis but told Mike he just wasn’t feeling well. Mike met his parents at the elevator in the University of Pennsylvania hospital;
“I thought they were waiting to give me a hug and a kiss. I went nuts. I threw my McDonald’s all over the wall; I was screaming and going crazy for two hours,” Colleluori recalls.
Mike and his parents learned that Nick’s disease had baffled doctors and the he had about one month to live.
“We knew before he knew, I had to man up.”
Mike withdrew from school for five weeks. He remembers those final days next to his brother as; “The best days of my life.”
At first, he didn’t want to return to school and the constant barrage of reporters seemed daunting. His resilience showed as Mike quickly adopted a new attitude.
“I knew Nick would do the same thing for me. I just wanted to get Nick out there so people knew what a moving person he was. I think it was good for me.”
For this community health major the future is unclear. For now he is focused on HEADstrong which is gaining support from major corporations and has already begun touching lives.
Through the sale of lime-green shoelaces they raised $30,000 in just one month. The foundation is also a way for him to stay involved in the lacrosse community by scouting talent to play for two HEADstrong teams in national tournaments.
While no one could blame him for taking some time off from school it is just not in the cards. This summer, Mike will intern at the University of Pennsylvania hospital in the same cancer center where his brother received treatment.
Just like his brother, Mike doesn’t tire easily.