He’s up for any challenge
Indomitable Cole Spiegel, 11, is an inspiration for players and coaches alike
Cole Spiegel has never played an officiated down of football, but he has scored numerous touchdowns during his young career.
Most of the 11-year-old’s time on the football field is spent on the sidelines as an assistant for the Glen Ellyn Golden Eagles. But after every home game, Spiegel gets his moment to truly shine, stepping in at running back to run an untimed touchdown play.
“Those moments are so special,” Cole’s father, Dan Spiegel, said.
Cole was born fighting.
Before he even turned 1, he faced his first major medical challenge when he was diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes problems with healthy brain and skull growth.
He underwent craniofacial plastic surgery at 11 months old, after which Dan and his wife, Beth, believed he would enjoy a healthy childhood.
But Cole was given another life-altering diagnosis as an 8-year-old when his parents noticed skin tags covering his neck.
A biopsy of the skin tags came back positive for Gorlin syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, which increases a person’s risk of developing cancerous and noncancerous tumors.
“Through a DNA test, we confirmed that he had a tumor-suppressant gene that was deformed,” Dan said. “It causes him to develop tumors that we normally would be able to suppress in our own bodies.”
Cole had surgery that removed more than 130 basal cells that covered his scalp, face, chest and back; each one had to be scraped from his body.
He continues to have surgery numerous times a year to remove the basal cells. Through it all, his joyous spirit has persisted largely due to his love of sports.
Cole’s journey on the football field started with the Golden Eagles two years ago, when coach Andrew Morris invited him out to practice after a player drew inspiration from Cole’s story.
“This boy at the time was a seventh-grader, and Cole was a fourth-grader,” Dan said. “Cole inspired him as an athlete. He can’t play because of his limitations, and the coach said, ‘Let’s meet this kid.’ ”
It wasn’t long before Cole was drawing up plays and running his own for the Golden Eagles.
As some of his Golden Eagles teammates progressed from youth football to high school, so did Cole. He added honorary coach of the Glenbard West Hilltoppers to his résumé this year.
In October, Cole and his dad met Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano through Tackle Cancer, a partnership program involving the Bears, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and CDW.
Pagano was inspired not only by Cole’s perseverance but also by his football knowledge.
Cole’s diagnosis prevented him from playing the game he loves, but in facing that adversity, he has developed a dream beyond high school athletics.
“The main goal is I want to be a sports announcer when I grow up,” Cole said, “probably football or baseball.” ✶