Our Story

  The Founding of Skipper’s Angel Wings

“If you can make it through the night, there will be a lighter day.” – Nicolas Bell   

Nicky & Michelle’s Story

Skipper’s Angel Wings began thanks to Nicky “Skipper” Bell, a resilient teenage boy, and his determined mother, Michele Bell.  At the age of 13 in 2001, Nicky received the devastating diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare blood cancer in the bone and soft tissues. Six months after sustaining a knee injury during a middle school basketball game, doctors diagnosed the subsequent bump as cancerous during a four-hour surgery. For the next five years, Nicky underwent chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and numerous surgeries. On December 29, 2005, he passed away with his mother and best friend at his side. He surpassed doctor’s predictions for his life expectancy thanks to his determination and his mother’s support.

During Nicky’s fight for his life, he and his mother focused on everyday moments of life. They learned from one another and their experiences. Michelle prepared for life after her child passed, exploring the depth of the human spirit and the soul’s ultimate survival. The connection between mother and son lived on long after Nicky’s passing, and the connection continues to be a force in Michele’s life every day. 

Michele documented her family’s story her 2018 book, A Journey of Unconditional Love, which tells of Nicky’s battle with cancer. The book is about more than cancer, the fight for survival, the relationship between mother and son, or the despair and anguish from losing a child; the book is about life. The inspiration in this story comes from the millions of small everyday moments, the choices made, the words spoken, and the unconditional love that makes such a seemingly senseless experience somehow bearable.

The Beginning of Skipper’s Angel Wings

In 2003, Michele founded Skipper’s Angel Wings to honor Nicky’s life. “I wanted a purpose to give to another family,” Michele explains. As a single mother with no child support, losing her job after requesting unpaid time off to care for Nicky caused a devastating series of events. She quickly lost her house and car and lived at the local YMCA while Nicky and her two daughters lived with friends. Sadly, the many social services and nonprofits that she turned to for help were unable to provide the financial resources that her family needed to cope during this difficult time. 

Michele describes the inspiration for Skipper’s as a way “to accelerate emotional breakthroughs for patients and their families, bringing them closer together and illuminating the beauty of life that is present even during heartbreak.” She explains that “there is no greater joy for me than seeing the progress Skipper’s Angel Wings allows families; diving deep into unique ways of coping and healing from within.” In just the first three years, the all-volunteer organization supported 100+ families on their journeys of survival, healing, and growth. 

Skippers Angel Wings was founded by Michele Bell in 2003.

SKIPPERS ANGEL WINGS is currently in re-instatement retroactive status.