A Mother’s Love
Jordan Beasley
A mother’s love is unconditional. It’s unwavering, it’s selfless, it’s nurturing, and it stands the test of time.
Who you are as a person originates with how you were raised and loved, and there’s no denying the significant impact a mom has on how we turn out long term. The love, lessons, advice and quality time is irreplaceable and unmatched, and it certainly shapes the person we become.
Mom is the first person we see upon birth, she is our first love, and she is our first connection to life itself.
For Jaden Mickey, a fifth-year defensive back on Boise State’s football team, his mom was his everything. She was his hero, his biggest supporter, his peace in turbulent times, and the person who taught him how to love.
Nilka Mickey, Jaden’s mom, was the pure essence and standard of what a mother is.
Let’s Go, Momma. Let’s Fight
The youngest of four children, Jaden loved, adored, cherished and supported his mom. His love and support were evident and present regardless of the situation or circumstance. Through the ups and downs, and highs and lows, Jaden supported his mother, and that support was on full display when Nilka received news that changed the landscape of her life and the entire Mickey family.
In her fifties, enjoying the life she manifested for herself, Nilka began to experience severe stomach pain for a period of time, which she initially didn’t think too much of. Unsure of its persistence and where it originated, Nilka eventually chose to get checked out to unearth the problem.
After a full gamut of tests and examinations, the verdict was in, and unfortunately, the news was devastating. In 2020, amid a global pandemic, Nilka was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. At the time, Jaden was just 16 years old.
Following the diagnosis and coming to terms with its severity, Nilka shared the news with her family and loved ones. Despite the sudden finding, Nilka, a loving wife and mother, was ready for a fight. A courageous fight that lasted three years.
“First and foremost, my mom was a mother, and she cared for us all her life,” Jaden said. “She was a loving wife to my dad, and a loving person in general. She told her children that we were the reason she was fighting. We were her why. She showed me what it meant to live for her family and fight for her family. I’ll always remember my mom fighting for us, and I’ll always fight for her.”
A stage 4 cancer diagnosis is life altering, and it demands a united and unified support system. It requires the desire to fight on the toughest days, and it brings about strength and courage that we didn’t know we had.
Jaden’s response to his mom’s diagnosis is not something you see everyday from a 16-year-old young man, but it encapsulates and encompasses the son he is and the person he was becoming.
“I was so rooted in my faith at a young age,” Jaden said. “We’re here for such a short period of time, and we live in a fallen world. I took the news head on, and I told her, ‘Let’s go, momma. Let’s fight.’ She fought for three years, and that’s what I’ll do for the rest of my life—fight for her.”
South Bend, Indiana
A four-star recruit out of high school according to multiple outlets, Jaden was ranked as a top-20 prospect in California. After collecting multiple all-state honors during his prep career, he headed 2,000 miles away from his mom and family for a post-secondary education and the opportunity to play football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Considered a prestigious institution by anyone with familiarity, Notre Dame consistently ranks in the upper echelon amongst national universities. Furthermore, Jaden was set to hit the gridiron and play for a college football “blue blood,” and he was going to do so under head coach Marcus Freeman, who was in his first full season at the helm in 2022.
Who can argue with an elite education from a top-flight university and the chance to play for a storied football program with 13 national championships under its belt. It’s a no-brainer, right?
The obvious answer is yes, but it meant Jaden had to sacrifice and leave his mom as she continued her fight with cancer in California. Despite the physical distance and her ongoing battle, Nilka only wanted what was best for Jaden, and ultimately determined Notre Dame was best.
Moving across the country under any circumstance is no small feat, but Jaden was faced with navigating new beginnings while being separated from his No. 1 fan and supporter.
“It’s harder in retrospect because that was a lot of time away from her,” Jaden remarked. “At the time, I knew she wanted me to go to Notre Dame, and I didn’t want her to feel bad for me not going to Notre Dame. I wanted to go to Notre Dame, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to Notre Dame, and my mom wanted me to go to Notre Dame. So, I went to Notre Dame. In retrospect, I think about it sometimes—being closer to my mom, spending more time with her, and her being able to come to more games. But she wanted me to go there, so I went.”
Nilka’s diagnosis, coupled with the distance and travel, limited the number of games she was able to see her son play in person. She was able to make it to two games at Notre Dame while attending two additional games closer to home on the west coast.
In nearly two full seasons, Nilka saw Jaden appear in 20-plus games in the blue and gold. With a limited number of people privy to the weight Jaden was carrying, he validated the decision, and most importantly, made his mom proud.
December 2023
After appearing in 11 games and notching nine total tackles as a true freshman in 2022, Jaden returned to Notre Dame for his sophomore campaign. That season, he appeared in all 13 games and recorded a pick-six in late October in a home contest against Pittsburgh.
A testament to Jaden’s mental and emotional toughness, he managed to play at a high level while his mom was back home in California with a cancer diagnosis that was worsening. What many people don’t know is Jaden played a good portion of the season with mom in hospice care.
Though heartbreaking, Jaden remained steadfast and strong, knowing he didn’t have much time left with his mom on earth. It was in a conversation between the two when Jaden realized that Nilka would be healed regardless.
“With my faith, I know the time we have on earth is limited,” Jaden said. “I knew my mom was suffering at the time. I told my mom, ‘Momma, believe that you are going to be healed.’ She said, ‘Me being healed might be God bringing me home.’ That changed my perspective on a lot of things.”
It was Thursday, Dec. 28, and it was night before Notre Dame was scheduled to play No. 19 Oregon State in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Locked in on meetings and preparation, Jaden’s phone continued to ring and buzz in his pocket. It was at that moment that Jaden realized what the outreach and calls were for.
Nilka Mickey transitioned that night and passed away.
“When I got out of the team meeting, I called my dad back and he told me that friends and family were at the house,” Jaden recalled. “He said, ‘We were wondering if we should tell you before or after the game. If it were me, I would want to know before the game so I can play for my mom.’ That call will sit with me for the rest of my life. I said my prayer and I thanked God for the 18 years he gave me with her. I knew she was home and was at peace with the Lord.”
In the immediate aftermath of learning about his mom’s passing, there was only place for Jaden to turn. He turned to his coaches and teammates. Those individuals showed Jaden the appropriate and necessary love and support he needed as he processed and navigated fresh emotions.
Everyone handles grief differently, and with a bowl game the next day, Jaden had a decision to make—to play, or not to play. For Jaden, that decision was a simple one, and he played in the game to honor his mom. He recorded a tackle and contributed to Notre Dame’s 40-8 victory over the Beavers.
“I knew that’s what she would want, and I knew that’s what my dad would want,” Jaden said. “Knowing how they raised me, it wasn’t a tough decision. Playing for Coach Freeman and my teammates at the time, it was a blessing to step on the field with them every chance I could. I wasn’t going to miss it and didn’t take that for granted.”
The Power of a Hug
Losing a loved one, particularly a parent, is never easy, and it’s infinitely more difficult when you lose one at a young age. There are so many moments and life lessons Jaden won’t share with his mom, but he finds comfort in knowing that she’s at peace.
What sets Jaden apart from most, particularly young adults, is his mindset and maturity. He will always hold close the love, lessons and time he spent with his mom, but nearly three years after Nilka’s passing, there’s one thing Jaden misses most.
“Her hugs,” said Jaden. “I’ll never forget it. One day, I was in the kitchen with my mom. I knew sooner or later with her diagnosis, time was going to come to an end. I remember hugging her for longer than normal. Right now, I can see myself in the kitchen hugging her. That motherly love can’t be replaced. She was my rock. Being able to give her those hugs is the main thing I’ll always miss about her. I wish I could hug my mom right now.”
In times of sorrow and mourning, it can be hard to find joy and peace. Jaden is no different than the next person, but he continuously finds strength and takes solace in knowing that his mom is no longer battling.
Though Jaden didn’t get a ton of time with his mom, he maximized the time he was given.
Time is sacred and irreplaceable. It ought to be cherished and used responsibly. Every moment that passes is a moment we can’t get back or store for later. Material things certainly fade, and it’s the connections, love and memories that last a lifetime.
The Treasure Valley
Jaden played the 2024 season with Notre Dame, but following three years in South Bend, he decided that it was time for new beginnings and a fresh start. After entering the transfer portal and talking to viable suitors, Jaden decided Boise State was home. Prior to donning the blue and orange for the 2025 campaign, Jaden had one final piece of business to handle at Notre Dame. Complete his psychology degree.
“You go to Notre Dame not only to be developed and go to the NFL, but to also get your degree,” Jaden said. “Transferring without the degree would have felt like I went there for no reason. Coach Freeman always stressed that when we leave the university, leave with something. That’s what I had to do, and it was non-negotiable. If I couldn’t have gotten my degree, I would have stayed. That’s how much it meant to me. As a young, Black man in America, getting that degree meant everything to me.”
In his first year at Boise State, Jaden started 11-of-13 games played, compiling 38 tackles (32 solo), seven tackles for loss, five passes defended and two forced fumbles. Now heading into his second season as a Bronco with the season opener less than two weeks away, Jaden is one of the emotional leaders for head coach Spencer Danielson and Boise State football.
If you’ve never met Jaden, here’s what you need to know: he’s a faithful and well-adjusted humble servant whose humility and maturity stem from the love he received from his mom, Nilka. His growth as a man is what he believes his mom would be most proud of. Though she’s not here with him physically, Jaden knows her heart would be filled with joy knowing that her son is thriving and happy.
Jaden has his degree and a plethora of intangibles and characteristics that will serve him well. Who was instrumental and played a pivotal role in him having these things? His mother, Nilka Mickey. To this point, Jaden is everything his mom hoped he’d be.
Job well done, Nilka. Your baby boy is who you raised him to be. He’s indeed thriving and happy.