NICU Nurse Battling Cancer Got the Super Bowl Surprise She Never Expected
- Nurses who spend their lives caring for others deserve the same compassion when they become patients themselves.
- Community recognition and shared moments of joy can provide real emotional strength during serious illness.
- Support for nurses extends beyond the workplace and can make a lasting impact during life’s hardest chapters.
A former neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse from Massachusetts received an unexpected and emotional surprise after attending a New England Patriots Wild Card playoff game. Shelly Sepulveda, a former NICU nurse and mother of six from Medway, was invited to the game as part of a personal bucket-list wish and was surprised with tickets to Super Bowl LX, with support from New England Patriots ownership, including Robert Kraft and Dr. Dana Kraft, through the Kraft Foundation, during her ongoing cancer treatment.
A Meaningful Gesture During Ongoing Cancer Treatment
Sepulveda was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2024 and is currently experiencing her third recurrence. She now requires supplemental oxygen, has been hospitalized multiple times over the past year, and is exploring clinical trials after her cancer stopped responding to chemotherapy.
Despite the progression of her illness, Sepulveda shared that attending the playoff game and learning she would be going to the Super Bowl had a profound emotional impact.
Shelly said she was “speechless,” “shaking,” and full of “happy tears” when she was surprised with the Super Bowl tickets. She described the moment as emotional and uplifting, adding that she was “on Cloud Nine” and deeply grateful.
The Power of Community Support for Nurses
Sepulveda’s story highlights the importance of emotional support for healthcare professionals facing personal health crises. Nurses often spend their careers caring for others, and receiving that same compassion in return can be deeply meaningful.
Research has consistently shown an association between strong social support and improved quality of life and emotional well-being for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.For nurses in particular, community recognition and shared experiences can provide encouragement during periods of physical and emotional strain.
Support Resources for Nurses Facing Serious Illness
For many nurses, serious illness or cancer can bring isolation, role reversal, and a loss of identity tied to caregiving. Community support and access to nurse-specific resources can make a meaningful difference during these moments.
Several organizations offer medical, financial, and emotional support specifically for nurses and healthcare professionals, including:
- American Nurses Foundation –Through the American Nurses Foundation and its National Nurse Well-Being Initiative, nurses can access free mental health and resilience resources, including digital tools, peer support, hotlines/warmlines, and other emotional well‑being supports specifically for nurses.
- CancerCare – CancerCare is a national nonprofit that provides free, professional oncology social work services, including counseling, support groups, education, resource navigation, and financial assistance for people undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones.
- The Pink Fund – The Pink Fund offers a 90‑day grant program that covers non‑medical cost‑of‑living expenses such as housing, utilities, transportation, and insurance for people in active breast cancer treatment, so they can focus on healing.
- PAN Foundation – The PAN Foundation provides copay and out‑of‑pocket assistance grants that help eligible patients with serious illnesses pay for prescription medications and related treatment costs their insurance does not fully cover.
- Nurses Peer Support Network – While “Nurses Peer Support Network” isn’t a single national brand, dedicated nurse peer‑support programs (for example, Nurse2Nurse and other nurse‑specific peer support services) offer confidential, non‑judgmental emotional support, resources, and referrals to nurses experiencing stress, burnout, or personal crises.
Many nurses also find meaningful support through hospital employee assistance programs, professional organizations, and trusted colleagues who understand the emotional weight of healthcare work.
More Than a Game
While the Super Bowl tickets represent a once in a lifetime sports experience, the gesture itself reflects something broader, recognition, appreciation, and connection during a difficult chapter of life.
For Sepulveda, the surprise was not just about football. It was about feeling supported and seen at a time when resilience is tested daily.
Her experience serves as a reminder to the nursing community that compassion, whether offered through care, community, or shared joy, can have a lasting impact, both on and off the field.
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