April 17, 2023 – Story by James Hanley
When it comes to student athletes, a lot of pressure and stress can be put on them. Factors such as school, sports, social life, and relationships can really put a mental strain on a person. However, when it comes to senior Bryce Botelho it is a different case. Bryce, throughout his first two years of High school, was doing well. He was playing soccer in the fall, and doing track in both winter and spring which he is now a captain in. Bryce had a good group of friends, and was really excelling at school. It seemed like Bryce was finding his stride, within the confines of the challenging Hingham High School environment. However, during his junior year something unexpected happened that would not only change his school life but the trajectory of his life.
During a track meet in his junior year, Bryce encountered a fatigue that he had never encountered before. Describing that track meet, Bryce states, “It was right after I came back after an ankle injury, I was sidelined for a bit due to it, so I was eager to come back and perform at the highest degree. After the race, I was feeling so good. I did my personal best, but I was feeling fatigued. I hadn’t felt this fatigue before, and before you know it as soon as I touched the grass I was on the ground. I almost passed out; I told my mom that I needed to see a doctor. That’s when I first noticed something troubling.” It was after that doctor’s visit that would change the course of Bryce’s life forever.
In his junior year of high school, Bryce was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. A rare disease that left the doctor dumbfounded due to Bryce’s youthful age.
After the doctor’s visit, Bryce was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, a rare autoimmune disease that allows the immune system to attack the thyroid preventing it from making enough hormones. Describing his symptoms for Hashimoto’s, Bryce notes, “The symptoms for me are: Extreme fatigue, extreme tiredness, cold sensitivity and me being ill quite often due to my immune system being shot.” Those symptoms have left Bryce at times feeling defeated, especially at school. Bryce, describing how Hashimoto’s affects him at school observes, “I would say at the beginning of the school day I feel groggy, I am not completely woken up. I can definitely notice the last few blocks of the day when I am just feeling asleep in class. It’s really tiring and mentally taxing, it has impacted my grades.” Currently Bryce is taking medication to combat Hashimoto’s disease, and to lessen the harsh symptoms that have taken such a toll on his body. These symptoms have affected Bryce’s ability to be social, and to be alert during school.
Although Hashimoto’s has run the gambit on Bryce’s body and immune system, we cannot ignore how mentally straining and taxing it could be for him.
Regarding his mental health through this ordeal, Bryce remarks, “I can say that it makes me frustrated for the most part, I just want this to be a thing that doesn’t impact my everyday life. I get upset due to getting fatigued, I just want to be hanging out with my friends and to have a fun senior year. It stresses me out, and it’s super mentally exhausting. I want to be social, but Hashimoto’s affects that tenfold.” When it came to noticing Bryce’s positive demeanor started to shift, the one person who noticed it first was Bryce’s mother Traci Botelho.
Traci has been through the journey with Bryce’s Hashimoto’s diagnosis since the beginning.
Traci noticed it way before that track meet, when she alluded, “Bryce was feeling fatigued the summer before school started, he was essentially sleeping the summer away. He would be able to hang around with his buddies at night for a couple of hours, before immediately clocking into bed. He was sleeping frequently throughout the summer, and that was concerning for me.” Traci has been through everything with Bryce, through sports, academics, and Hashimoto’s. Traci has been Bryce’s biggest supporter, being there for his doctor’s appointments and making sure that Bryce gets the proper medication to treat Hashimoto’s disease. Traci has been a lifesaver for Bryce, and her contributions to her son’s progress and success has not gone unnoticed.
Bryce wanted to give a word of advice, and some encouragement to anyone who is dealing with a similar disease or mental health decline.
In the closing moments of the conversation with him, Bryce had this to say when it came to what he would tell another person dealing with a similar situation, “I would say it’s a struggling situation, but on your worst days don’t give up. It’s going to feel different, but over time you will be ok. There are days where I did not want to run, go to the gym, and be around my friends. Live your life, don’t let any disease define you. Surround yourself with good people who lift you up at the darkest of times. Most importantly, be yourself. Those are the things that have kept me going, and I hope that someone can apply that to their own lives.”
Bryce Botelho is an inspiration. The way that Bryce has graciously maneuvered this life altering moment to not bother him, and to keep trucking along is incredible. Bryce is strong willed, not allowing Hashimoto’s to take control of his life even in the toughest of times. He takes his medication, and never skips it. He is now doing well in school and is pursuing the college dream. He wanted his friends, family, teachers and coaches to know what had been happening, and to spread awareness of this disease. If there was one word that describes and encompasses the essence of Bryce Botelho the person, the student, and the athlete. That word is resilient.
Good luck, thank you for your resiliency and honesty Bryce!