CAMBRIDGE, Minn. — “She was everything good in the world, that’s what she was,” said Karen Nelson, mother of Faith and Maddy Nelson.
Scott and Karen Nelson have dealt with more heartbreak than any parent deserves.
The couple resides in Cambridge, with their four children growing up and attending Cambridge-Isanti High School. In 2018, the couple lost their oldest daughter, Maddy following a three-year battle with cancer.
“She passed away when she was 18, 10 days shy of her high school graduation,” said Karen.
The family helped move forward, thanks to the love and support of the Cambridge community.
“They’ve always surrounded us with so much love and comfort and help and checking in, and it makes the world of difference,” said Scott.
Maddy's twin sisters, Faith and Chloe, followed in her footsteps in attending Cambridge-Isanti High School, and competing with different athletic teams. For Faith, she discovered a joy and love for the Bluejackets volleyball program.
“Faith’s number one sport that she loved the most was volleyball,” said Scott.
Faith struck up a special bond with current Bluejackets head coach Colin Dickey.
“He really believed in her, and really pushed her,” said Faith's twin, Chloe.
“Just a heart of gold, she lit up every room that she walked into. Had an infectious laugh, just so much fun to be around," said Dickey. "She always told you how much she loved you and that was the best feeling in the world."
Before he was head coach, Dickey served as an assistant with the program. Faith's encouragement to apply for the vacant head coaching position in 2019 is a huge reason why Dickey is in the role he's in today.
“Faith’s very special, she was a very special young lady. To be perfectly honest, I would not be the head coach if it wasn't for her. Faith really lived up to her name, she had so much faith in me,” said Dickey.
Faith served as captain in 2020 during Dickey's first season as head coach.
That bond would continue, even after Faith's playing days were over.
“She loved Colin. She loved absolutely everything about him," said Karen.
Faith and Chloe would head off to Wisconsin-Eau Claire for school, where the two lived together and continued their life-long best friend journey at the same college.
"People always asked us what it was like to be a twin," said Chloe. "It just felt normal, because we didn’t know any better. I would always tell people I can’t imagine not being a twin. Like our birthday, everyone’s like you have to share a birthday, but like we make each other feel special, and it’s fun to be able to celebrate that with someone who you were literally born with."
The two were back home on holiday break this past winter. Faith and some friends had decided to go snowmobiling on New Year's Eve. In the early morning hours on New Year's Day, cops arrived to the Nelson house.
“A deputy coming to our door, and I work with some of these deputies. Got a knock on the door, and was told there was a snowmobile accident,” said Karen.
“Like somebody had come and ripped your heart out,” said Scott.
"We just rushed down there (to the hospital) and got the news that she wasn’t going to survive," said Chloe. "It felt like a dream. I just kept saying to my boyfriend, Luke, like this can’t be happening. It’s just a phone call that nobody wants to get in the middle of the night. Especially after already losing one sister."
Faith Nelson was 21 years old.
Having already been down the path of losing a daughter before, Scott, Karen and the entire Nelson family once again leaned on the Cambridge community to move forward.
“And if it wasn’t for our community, it would be really, really tough,” said Scott.
As a way to honor Faith, this year's Cambridge-Isanti volleyball team held a night to retire Faith's former jersey.
“Faith’s fingerprints are all over this program. And that’s what we want everyone to know, that’s where it started," said Dickey.
The team hosted the Nelson family for a match, with a jersey retirement ceremony prior to the start.
“I think it’s a pretty big deal. It kind of shows how big of an impact she had on not just the team, but the community as a whole,” said Faith's brother, Luke.
“We’re very grateful for how much love and support our family has received,” said Karen.
When Maddy passed away, the Nelsons started the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation as a way to honor her. The foundation holds two events each year, with the money raised being donated to organizations that help kids.
For more information on the foundation and how you can help, click here.
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