Volleyball fans around the Ozarks know the name Jaycee Fixsen.
Fixsen was a standout at Nixa before graduating early to join Missouri State, but before her time as a Bear could start her world stopped.
Last winter, she graduated from Nixa and began her time with MSU volleyball.
“I enjoyed it so much, it was so nice even if I was just peppering back and forth I didn’t even care what it was,” Jaycee Fixsen said.
However, early prep for DI volleyball suddenly stopped.
“I got through about two months,” she said.
At the end of February, Fixsen’s mom gifted her a massage, something that may have saved her life.
“She went on a Saturday, and the masseuse found a lump on her neck. On Monday we went to the doctor, on Tuesday we were at Mercy and on Thursday we were diagnosed with Hodgkin’s (Lymphoma). It was pretty surreal,” Jaycee’s mom Christie Fixsen said.
Jaycee was diagnosed with Stage 3 Intermediate Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“It was very emotional,” said Jaycee.
The freshman left her new team and returned home for treatment. Coming back to campus every chance she got.
“I knew I loved volleyball but it’s just different when you’re watching from the sidelines,” added Jaycee.
The loss of her favorite sport helped her fight life’s biggest opponent.
“Something just clicked in her about after that first month of chemo that ‘I’m going to beat this, I’m going to come back, I’m going to start working out now,’” said Christie Fixsen.
She spent three months receiving chemotherapy at St. Jude in Memphis, ending with the biggest win of her life. Shortly after beating cancer, she returned to the court with a brand-new outlook.
“You can’t take anything for granted. I remember thinking that I would take the absolute worst practice I ever had right now than to be just sitting at home. I just want to have fun, I miss having fun on the court with the people I love playing with,” Jaycee said.
She’s now back with the Bears preparing for the upcoming season. Working hard, but most importantly she’s healthy.
“She’s on the court, she just had cancer 3-4 months ago and she’s playing,” Christie Fixsen said.
“The waiting process is just hard, like I’m still waiting I’m not 100% back yet at all,” Jaycee added.
“I’m confident that she’ll get back to where she was and be better than that. Again, I think that comes back to her competitive spirit,” said MSU volleyball coach Steven McRoberts.
A true competitor on and off the court.
