Conant 3-sport athlete fighting MS

Talented three-sport athlete Meghan Melone would have been a difference-maker for Conant's girls basketball team this winter.

"We're good right now," said Cougars coach Dan Travers, whose club is an impressive 15-3. "But Meghan is the person we're missing to become really good."

Tonight, Melone will try to be a difference-maker in another way: fighting Multiple Sclerosis.

The Conant senior was diagnosed with MS (relapsing -remitting) in December of her freshman year.

Fans are expected to wear the color red at today's 7:30 p.m. showdown between Conant (15-3, 5-0) and visiting Schaumburg (17-1, 4-0), which will determine first place in the Mid-Suburban West.

One of Melone's friends will deliver a speech about the disease in hopes of educating people and raising money. There will be a raffle of Bulls and Cubs tickets.

Meghan's first sign of MS was optic neuritis in eighth grade when she suffered blindness for 3½ months.

"But it mostly affects my legs now," she said. "They go numb and I'll get a tingly sensation and weak to the point where I feel like I'm going to collapse."

Because of her passion to play, it was tough on Melone. She didn't know her limits and often coaches would have to tell her to stop.

"The only thing I can do when I get overheated is put ice bags on my legs," she said, "or if it gets really bad I go on IV steroids for a week to prevent relapse, which makes things difficult."

Melone competed for Peggy Scholten's varsity volleyball team last fall, and she plans to play soccer this fall.

"It's hard to play basketball because of all the sharp cutting you have to do. It breaks down my muscles and there is too much constant pounding," she said. "My MS isn't as bad as some people because I still have mobility.

"But I'm still a teenager and teenagers don't normally get this disease. Being a three-sport athlete, it can cause heartbreak."

It has taught Melone about life in general, making her a stronger person.

"I wouldn't change that for the world," she said. "One of my biggest things is not to take anything for granted and live every day to its fullest because you never know what tomorrow will bring."

She says she has learned the important things in life.

Sure she would love to be out on the court hitting 3-pointers in front of the big Friday night crowds.

"Not only is Meghan a great person she is a very good basketball player," Travers said of the 5-foot-5 guard. "She is probably our most skilled player. She can bury the 3-pointer. She can shoot and handle the ball.

"She has a basketball mentality. She has a basketball brain and is a tough girl. She has her skill level up there with the real good players."

That's why it's so hard for her to be away from the floor for her senior year.

"I believe that everything does happen for a reason and there was a reason I was diagnosed," Melone said. "I'm just not sure yet and I may never find out. But that's OK."

Melone wants to educate others on the disease.

"I would never wish this pain and agony that I feel on someone else," she said. "That's part of what I have learned from this obstacle in my life. I came to the conclusion that I would never wish someone else got this instead of me."

Melone is thankful for a great support system --family, friends, teammates coaches and all her teachers -- and all those who have walked for her team "Ohana" every May, raising more than $8,000 in three years.

"My mom (Betty) would have to be my role model," Meghan said. "I turn to her for everything, and she has taught me how to handle life now."

Betty Melone has helped her daughter mature a lot earlier than many teenagers.

"She has also taught me how to be myself no matter what," Meghan added. "The biggest thing she has taught me is to remember things could always be worse. I've had some pretty bad times, but somehow that saying always comes back to me."

Meghan said it was hard at first to avoid crying.

"But I didn't want people to see me breaking down," she said. "And I still don't because I don't want people to feel sorry for me.

"There are other people who need support, too, and I have so much to be thankful for. I'm just glad I figured it out before it was too late."

Travers and the Cougars can be thankful they have someone like Melone as their No. 1 cheerleader this winter.

"She's always there for us," Travers said. "She still comes to every practice, every game. She is an integral part of our team because she is so respected by her peers, teammates, teachers and coaches."

And her basketball IQ even comes in handy.

"We're always talking to her about what she thinks basketball-wise," Travers said. "We're always getting her input.

"Meghan is a sweetheart of a lady and class act. Her parents (Fred and Betty) have to be congratulated for raising a fine young lady."

A young lady who will be in the spotlight tonight.

"I think it's amazing that people want to recognize me," Melone said. "That makes me smile but will also probably bring tears to my eyes at the same time.

"With so many people wearing red, it will make me feel like I've made a difference in their lives," added Meghan, who is planning to attend St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa to become a high school Spanish teacher with a minor in psychology.

"And that's one thing I strive for in life, making a difference."