Terminally ill child to teach class Tuesday

Today, Michael Nobile is confined mostly to a wheelchair, and he can no longer speak. But on Tuesday at 10:15 a.m., the 2014 graduate of Springfield High School (SHC) will teach a class on "Why I Love the Yankees".
http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2015-11-28/Front_Page/Terminally_ill_child_to_teach_class_Tuesday.html

Terminally ill child to teach class Tuesday Today, Michael Nobile is confined mostly to a wheelchair, and he can no longer speak. But on Tuesday at 10:15 a.m., the 2014 graduate of Springfield High School (SHC) will teach a class on "Why I Love the Yankees" at the Howard Dean Center in the "Flex Room" at SHC. Nobile, 19, was born with type C Niemann-Pick disease, a rare inherited condition involving lipid metabolism where there is a breakdown in the use of fats and cholesterol. An abnormal lipid metabolism could lead to harmful amounts of lipids accumulating in vital organs like the lungs and brain. Niemann-Pick disease predominantly appears in childhood and carries with it medical problems such as difficulty breathing, developmental delay and a lack of coordination. The disease is usually fatal. Nobile's mother, Nancy Benson, said her son is doing well despite his deteriorating condition. She said he is looking forward to teaching his first class on his beloved Yankees with the help of his caretaker, Matthew Meserve. "He is holding his own, but he is strong. He is a fighter. He is not able to talk any more, but he will try to communicate," Benson said. The hour-long class will include a slide presentation explaining Nobile's lifelong love affair with the Yankees. Born in New Hampshire, his parents hail from Long Island. "His grandfather was a Yankees fan. Michael is a Yankees fan, and so am I," said Benson. There will also be a table displaying Yankees memorabilia including a replica 1978 Yankees World Series ring belonging to Nobile. Benson said she hopes Michael's story will inspire and teach students the value of perseverance in the face of major life challenges.