Two years ago, the programs were printed and the costumes were fitted. But when the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club’s annual show hit the ice, along came the announcement that due to illness, Nicole Stotts would not be skating.

Initially, the diagnosis was strep throat and mononucleosis. But further tests revealed more frightening news for Nicole and her parents, Mark and Andrea Stotts of Albert Lea. Nicole had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Then a seventh-grader, Nicole began treatments soon after the diagnosis. According to Andrea, the normal treatment plan for girls with leukemia is two years. But because she suffered a relapse a couple of months into the treatment and cancer was found in her spinal fluid and fluid surrounding her brain, it’s been extended.

&uot;Now she’s on a 2 1/2-year treatment plan,&uot; her mother said. &uot;If all goes well, she’ll finish up on Sept. 11.&uot;

Nicole has received radiation and chemotherapy with several drugs. When she relapsed, doctors were initially looking for other illnesses, like meningitis, Andrea said. &uot;They did not anticipate a relapse,&uot; she said.

&uot;Once they found it, they started a more aggressive type of treatment,&uot; Andrea said. That aggressive treatment actually caused a stroke. Nicole was completely paralyzed on her right side. She couldn’t walk. Her speech was affected. She couldn’t use her hands.

While family and friends prayed, Nicole fought back with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Now in remission, she receives treatments at home on a daily basis in pill form and once a month she takes a more intensive treatment in Rochester. She’s missed as lot of school over the last two years, but she’s kept up with her class.

And while she’d planned to quit figure skating after the show two years ago and play hockey instead, Nicole decided to get back on the ice last summer. &uot;I wasn’t intending to skate,&uot; she said, adding the idea was to get some of her strength back. But she soon found herself a member of the club again and even competing.

Andrea credits Nicole’s coach, Rachel Burroughs, with much of Nicole’s current success.

&uot;Rachel’s been a godsend,&uot; Andrea said. &uot;She so understanding and so in tune with when Nicole’s having a bad day. She really encouraged her to skate in the show.&uot;

Nicole has earned a solo, and will skate to &uot;Born to Be Wild&uot; at the show, set for Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Albert Lea City Arena. She’s also part of the opening number, the competition line, the boy/girl number and the finale. She now skates three days a week, for 45 minutes on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and for 90 minutes on Mondays.

Nicole has been skating as long as she can remember. &uot;I remember going out with my mom and my aunt,&uot; she recalls. &uot;I have this picture of when I was really little out skating.&uot;

At age 7 or 8 she joined the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club. &uot;I just wanted to get better at it and do the harder things,&uot; she said of joining the club.

In fourth grade, she began competing. By seventh grade, it wasn’t unusual for her to take first in freestyle contests and third or fourth in compulsory. But she was working hard, skating four days a week for 90 minutes at a time.

She admits she’s not yet at the level she had attained before she got sick, but she’s glad to be back. She’s got friends in the club and enjoys the exercise.

Andrea said she knows how difficult it can be for child who has not been ill to get back on the ice again after a summer off, much less being ill for a year and a half and deciding to get back on.

&uot;Sometimes as parents we have to put ourselves in check when we’re comparing her to other kids in soccer (another of her passions),&uot; she said. &uot;It’s really put things into perspective for us.&uot;

They are so grateful for her progress and all the prayers that have gotten her here, Andrea said.

&uot;I believe God has a lot of good things in store for her,&uot; she said.