soccerNM.com

ALBUQUERQUE -- Sarah Wible never has been one to simply sit around and accept things.

So when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, she attacked it with the same zeal that she's done with everything in her life.

That means still playing soccer, both for her Rio Vista squad, as well as La Cueva, where she's just finshed up her senior year.

And it also means getting back at the disease the best way she can. And for Wible, that means raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Wible has sponsored bracelet sales, participated in fashion shows and done any number of other things to help bring leukemia to its knees.

For those efforts, Wible, 18, is being recognized as the LLS New Mexico and El Paso Chapter Girl of the Year.

"I think it's really special and it's a real honor," she said.

"She didn't let cancer get her," said Janine Collins, an LLS campaign manager. "She had the attitude that she was going to get cancer and not let cancer get her."

Wible was diagnosed in May 2008 and is still undergoing treatments, although she is in remission.

After originally being diagnosed with a heart murmur, the correct analysis came like a shot from the dark.

“We were up all night, not knowing,” her father, Jim Wible, said of the evening before the results came back. “You’re never prepared for it to be leukemia. You never think it’s going to be something like that.”

The Wibles as well as friends spoke about the situation shortly after Sarah was diagnosed and undergoing treatment.

Her friends took it hard, as well, after receiving text messages from Wible while she was at the hospital.

“I had to excuse myself from class and go the bathroom to cry,” said friend, RV teammate and Eldorado rival Mickey Giles. “It was very surreal. It was hard.”

Doctors at the University Hospital oncology department took an aggressive approach, immediately admitting her and beginning treatments quickly. Within two weeks, Wible was already in remission, although she still faced 2½ years of treatment.

That time is just about up as her last scheduled treatment happens to fall on Giles' birthday in August.

"Everything is on track," Wible said. "My blood counts are good."

She took off one high school season, serving as the Bears' manager before getting back to the game when club season rolled around.

And when La Cueva made their annual run at the state championship last fall, Wible was right there in the mix.

Although the Bears came up short, losing to the Eldorado in the championship game, just being on the field again made Wible a winner.

Now she's busy preparing for the finale of her competitive soccer career as the '92 Showcase team is set for the NMYSA State Cup Tournament.

"Skill-wise I think I've gotten most of that back," Wible said. "But I'm still undergoing treatment so I still don't think I'm all the back with the conditioning."

With her hectic schedule, however, it's hard to imagine she lacks any endurance.

In addition to sponsoring a bracelet-drive to raise money, she also helped raise money for a La Cueva teacher with breast cancer.

Then there's her responsibilities as Girl of the Year, which include supporting the Man and Woman of the Year candidates. That means, among other things, attending more fund-raising events.

Throw in her senior-year activities, as well as plenty of soccer, and, of course, her treatments, and Wible is one busy person.

And that's the way she wants as she does her own battle with blood cancer.

“Sometimes I can’t even believe I have it,” she said earlier. “Everyone was so upset and crying, but I told them to stop making it a big deal.”