Last respects paid to courageous Nicola Coates (From York Press)

Last respects paid to courageous Nicola Coates

9:20am Thursday 24th December 2009

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BRAVE Nicola Coates and her sister Helen are together again.

Nicola was yesterday buried alongside Helen in the churchyard of St Helen’s Church, Wheldrake, after mourners had packed into the church for her funeral service.

Nicola, 35, of Wheldrake, near York, who was baptised and confirmed in the church, last week lost a 23-year battle for life after being stricken by leukaemia for the fifth time.

During that time, she was given an extra eight years of life through a bone marrow transplant from an American donor, Scott Wittchow.

Helen was buried in the churchyard in 1991 after dying of another cancer of the blood, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

A friend of Nicola, Natalie Shearsmith, yesterday read a eulogy on behalf of her father Gary, saying Nicola had first fallen ill during her first term at Fulford School, and lost most of the year through illness and also lost her hair through treatment, and it proved a very testing time.

“It was at these times of uncertainty and anxiety that Nicola developed a strength of character that was to equip her for what would be very testing and trying times ahead in her life.

“Twenty-three years off and on, Nicola fought the battle with the awful disease with great courage, but above all with quiet dignity and resolve.

“She was an inspiration to all she came into contact with, not least the many doctors and nurses who have expressed their admiration for her as a patient who had to endure so much.”

Scott Wittchow, who gave Nicola his bone marrow in 2000 after being found to be a perfect match, asked for a tribute from him and his wife Gretchen to be read to mourners.

“It is with heavy hearts that Gretchen and I extend our deepest sympathies across thousands of miles to all those who cherished and loved Nicola,” he said.

“We will miss her deeply. We were truly blessed to have been brought together through what we have called a miraculous medical match.

“Gretchen and I will never forget Nicola’s smiling face, her positive attitude and her gracious manner.

“We will always think of Nicola as a fighter who overcame unbelievable health hardships again, and again.

“Gary and Hazel, we truly admire you for the unwavering and always uplifting support you gave Nicola as she faced a lifelong fight against a cruel foe.”

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