Mickie Spicer (left), with daughter and Gator gymnastics alum Rachel, completed a goal tonight. Diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2015, Spicer set a goal to participate in the 2016 Link to Pink survivors walk. After successfully completing treatment in the fall, "Mama Spice" joined this year's survivor's walk.
Link to Pink Survivors Walk Completes Goal for Mama Spice
Friday, February 12, 2016 | Gymnastics
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By: Ashley Milchman, UF Communications
On Friday, September 18th 2015, Mickie Spicer got to ring a bell.
But it wasn't just any bell. Ringing this bell meant Mickie had defeated Stage 3 Breast Cancer.
Mickie considers her daughter Rachel's gymnastics to be one of the most fantastic things in her life. But during Rachel's senior season, Mickie's time was spent between juggling being a spectator in the O'Connell Center, and a patient at Texas Oncology.
Mickie underwent a double mastectomy, 28 chemotherapy treatments and reconstructive surgery all in the span of six months.
Mickie's first surgery was in July of 2015.
"Her surgery was pretty intense," Rachel said. "But everything went smoothly after a couple of nights spent in the hospital."
The focus after surgery turned to chemotherapy treatments.
It was 28 treatments and 28 chances for Mickie to be one step closer to ringing the bell.
"Every day when I went in for radiation I saw that bell on the wall and I thought 'I just can't wait until I ring that bell,'" Mickie said. "I would see it and say 'I'm almost there, I'm almost done." Rachel Spicer visit with Florida head coach Jenny Rowland. Mickie returned to the O'Connell Center tonight to participate in the 2016 Link to Pink survivor's walk.Mickie's fight was eye opening to her in many ways.
"I realized I didn't know anything about breast cancer," Mickie said. "I had no idea what women went through, I was truly stunned over what women have to endure and the strength you need."
Mickie found a big amount of her strength in something that had been a huge part of the Spicer family's last four years: the Gator Nation.
"The Gator Nation was awesome last year to me," Mickie said. "It just gave me so much strength to keep going."
A tradition at the Gators Link to Pink meet includes the survivor walk. Breast cancer survivors get to walk out of the iconic giant, inflatable Gator head and then surround the floor exercise mat to welcome the Florida gymnasts to the meet.
Another iconic component of the Link to Pink meet are fluorescent pink t-shirts worn by fans, staff, and gymnasts alike. Rachel's shirt was unique. "I Wear Pink for Mom" it read.
"I had never known someone personally who's gone through cancer treatment so it was tough last year," Rachel's three-year teammate Bridget Sloan said. "She loves the Florida Gators and we love her."
Less than a month after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Mickie was in the stands cheering on her daughter at the 2015 Link to Pink, just as she had countless meets before. This meet, however, she had the amplified support of the Gator Nation cheering not only for Rachel, but for Mickie herself.
Mickie even got to watch her daughter post a season-best 9.925 on floor.
"Last year, I said I was going to come back and I was going to walk through that Gator head," Mickie said. "That was my last goal in this process."
Mickie rang the bell on September 18th and 147 days later, she stood in the tunnel of the O'Connell Center, ready to take the survivor walk, holding Rachel's hand along the way.
"You could just see Mickie glowing," Sloan said. "She loves the Florida Gators and we love her, so tonight we were not only competing for ourselves and the Gator Nation, but we were competing for her."
"It really hit home last year," sophomore Alex McMurtry said. "It's close to our hearts and we will always have Mickie Spicer and Rachel. We love wearing pink for them."
Even this year's freshmen understood the how close Link to Pink hits home.
"It was amazing because we're competing for them, but they're supporting us in return," freshman Alicia Boren said. "So it was great to see them have smiles on their faces for us."
"Rachel is one of the biggest spirits and one of the most positive people we've ever had on our team," McMurtry said.
"My family can not thank the Gator Nation, friends and family enough," Rachel said.
"I've realized how much I miss being here," Mickie said moments before her survivors walk. "But it's great that Rachel can be here and be a part of the end of this fight."
