Yankees lover with rare illness pitches love of team

Young Michael Nobile taught a class on the New York Yankess Monday at the Howard Dean Center in Springfield.
http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2015-12-02/Front_Page/Yankees_lover_with_rare_illness_pitches_love_of_te.html

2015-12-02 / Front Page Print article Print Yankees lover with rare illness pitches love of team By Allan Stein allans@eagletimes.com Michael Nobile, a 2014 graduate of Springfield High School, scrolls through old photographs of his beloved New York Yankees as he taught a class Monday at the Howard Dean Center in Springfield. Nobile has been diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects lipid and cholesterol metabolism. — ALLAN STEIN Michael Nobile, a 2014 graduate of Springfield High School, scrolls through old photographs of his beloved New York Yankees as he taught a class Monday at the Howard Dean Center in Springfield. Nobile has been diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects lipid and cholesterol metabolism. — ALLAN STEIN SPRINGFIELD — Though Michael Nobile can no longer swing a bat or throw a baseball, the fatal disease that has ravaged his body is powerless against his undying love of the game, and of the New York Yankees. The 19-year-old North Springfield resident and 2014 Springfield High School graduate took practice swings using just his arms as he taught a class Monday on "Why I Love the Yankees" at the Howard Dean Center in the "Flex Room" at Springfield High School. With the help of his caretaker, Matthew Meserve, the duo took turns scrolling through historic Yankees photographs in a slide presentation using an iPad. "Would you say it's time to get started? Play ball?" Meserve asked Nobile, now confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak because of the disease. Nobile gave a thumbs up. Meserve and Nobile both spent hours scouring the web searching for vintage photographs and important facts about the Yankees and putting them in order. "Michael worked very hard on this. We found all these pictures, but they were all in a jumble," said Meserve. In 2011, Nobile was diagnosed 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. At home, he sleeps in a hospital bed and requires 24-hour care. He stays warm under a Yankees quilt and comfortable with Yankees pillows. When he was in kindergarten Nobile began to display the early onset of the disease in his wispy handwriting. In third grade he suffered hearing loss and his gate started to decline. As the disease progressed, Nobile began having difficulty raising his head and performing other normal body movements. But when it comes to the Yankees, it was two thumbs up at the head of the class. Nobile used his index finger to flip through old photos of Yankees greats Babe Ruth, who racked up 719 career home runs, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra, who became famous for his unusual quotes: "The game ain't over till its over," and "You can observe a lot by watching." "Show us the Reggie Jackson swing. Oh, yeah," said Meserve as Nobile wound up and swung at the air. "Derek Jeter, is he your favorite? Yes?" Meserve said. Nobile nodded. Displayed on a table was an assortment of Yankees memorabilia that included Yankees socks, cups, caps, shirts, photographs, books, and posters. Nobile lifted his sweatshirt and revealed the Yankees logo on another shirt worn underneath. Later he passed around a 1978 Yankees World Series replica ring. Nobile's mother, Nancy Benson, stood on the sidelines filming her son in class on a camcorder and cell phone. The footage will serve as a cherished reminder of her son's bravery and perseverance in spite of the disease. His love of the Yankees, inspired by his grandfather, has kept him going in spite of tremendous odds, she said. "Every day is a blessing. And I truly believe he believes that. Anything like this I try to celebrate with Michael. He doesn't have any of the other things kids have to celebrate," said Benson, tears welling in her eyes.