Mona Nyheim-Canales

****Update Please Read *****

From Fernando:

Mona has been fighting for 21 months as The Strong Viking warrior she is. She has been at hospital for last 5 days....unfortunately the doctors have informed us the tests have confirmed the worst case scenario. Mona's diagnosis could not be worse.

She understood the doctors...very sad moment...she is not afraid of death...she is the sunshine of our lives...She is so brave and she is in peace...Mona is the bravest, most loving, the most kind and nicest person I have ever known...her cancer spread rapidly all over her brain and now it is lepto meningeal carcinomatosis...

This is the end of the road

SHE LOVES YOU!! WE LOVE YOU!

Love from Mona ,Thor, Francisco and I

Thanks for your love friendship and prayers...they gave her 21 more months to live with us.

Our favorites Coaches Coach Fernando and Coach Mona need our help . Coach Mona awaits further test results after she was diagnosed with cancer last week . Please consider helping them out with any additional medical or living expenses they may encounter .

Coach Mona focuses on the development of all Pitchfork Aquatics swimmers. Mona, a native of Bergen, Norway, has coached for 25+ years at the collegiate level (University of Houston, University of Illinois, University of North Texas, Colgate University, and University of Michigan) and head age group coaching positions with Dallas Mustangs and City of Plano Swimmers. She was the Head Coach Denton City Aquatics in Texas as well as Head Senior Coach with the National Champion Club Wolverine in Michigan. She was recently the Director for High Performance in Istanbul for the Turkish Swimming Federation. Mona was awarded North Texas Age Group coach of the Year and ASCA Age Group coach of the year for Michigan. Her significant educational background includes a Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology from University of Illinois, Masters of Physical Education/Exercise Science from University of Houston, and Business Economics and Marketing Bachelor degree from University of Arizona where she was a four year letter winner. Over the years Mona has developed and implemented various programs for student athletes as well as international clinics for coaches. She is a highly requested lecturer on the international circuit for both the International Olympic Committee and FINA and was a featured speaker at the 2016 FINA World Aquatic Convention in Windsor, Canada. Mona and Fernando have two sons, Francisco and Thor who are both multi-sport athletes.

The Pitchfork Aquatics Families sincerely Thank you 

#CoachMonaStrong