Nixa’s Jaycee Fixsen, one of the Lady Eagles volleyball program’s all-time greats, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma last week and is being treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, this week.
News of Fixsen’s diagnosis triggered an outpouring of support for her at Nixa and with her club team, 417 Volley.
Nixa’s basketball players wore warmup T-shirts for Class 6 District 5 play at Joplin with Fixsen’s jersey number 13 on the back.
417 Juniors has organized a ‘Fight for Jaycee’ fundraiser for Fixsen and her family. T-shirts are being sold with the message, “In This Family We Fight Together” emblazoned on the front of the shirt.
More than $1,000 in T-shirt sales was raised within the first 24 hours of the fundraiser.
Hodgkins Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. It may affect people of any age, but is most common in people between 20 and 40 years old and those over 55.
Fixsen’s Nixa playing career from 2018-2021 saw her finish as the Lady Eagles’ career leader in kills and earn a long list of individual honors. She led Nixa to two Final Four berths.
Fixsen’s career numbers at Nixa include 1,191 kills, 888 digs, 127 blocks and 90 aces.
Fixsen enrolled at Missouri State in January and will continue her career as a Lady Bear.
