UL softball coach Alyson Habetz honored the medical team helping her through breast cancer treatment before Wednesday night’s fall ball game at Lamson Park, recognizing the doctors and nurses who have become an important part of her fight.
The recognition came days after Habetz reached another milestone, ringing the bell at her infusion center after completing a six-round stretch of chemotherapy.
“I wanted to make it big for them, because they deserve it,” Habetz said. “I mean, they really do. They’re special people. I know they don’t normally get recognized and I know they don’t want the recognition, but they need to be recognized for what they do.”
Habetz was diagnosed with triple-positive invasive ductal carcinoma shortly after UL’s 2026 season ended in May. She completed a six-round stretch of chemotherapy last Tuesday, marking the milestone by ringing the bell at the infusion center.
She expected to celebrate the moment with her medical team. Instead, she got a surprise visit from her own team.
“They all showed up with some administration, (men’s basketball) coach Q (Quannas White) and his whole staff were there,” Habetz said. “I walked out and was like, ‘What are y’all doing here?’
“It was an outpouring of support. There were about 50 people there. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude in a big way. The other people in the infusion room were wondering who all these people were, but it was exciting. It changed the vibe in the room.”
The support has meant even more because Habetz initially wanted to keep her diagnosis to herself. She had faith God would get her through the fight and waited three months before telling her players.
Since opening up to them, she has seen firsthand how much their support helps.
“Honestly, they get me out of bed every day,” she said.
Chemotherapy takes a toll, making even ordinary activities more difficult.
“I don’t feel like getting up,” Habetz said. “I mean, things hurt and I’m tired. As the chemo progresses, it accumulates, so yeah, your body wears down.”
But when she gets to the ballpark and sees her players, something changes.
“I just can’t imagine going through this without my team,” she said.
Habetz said she remains as demanding as ever on her players. On particularly hot days, she sometimes goes upstairs and uses a microphone to communicate with the team.
“But really, things have been normal other than that,” she said. “To be honest, when I’m out there, I forget that I have cancer, I really do. I’m just into it and believe me, the players haven’t cut me any slack either, and I love it. It’s just great being in the grind with them.”
Habetz also wanted to recognize the medical professionals who have guided her through treatment. Before Wednesday’s fall ball game at Lamson Park, her doctors and nurses were honored with the ceremonial first pitch.
She praised her oncologist, Dr. Gene Brierre; surgeon Dr. Henry Kaufman; and infusion nurse Courtney Roberts.
“I wanted to make it big for them, because they deserve it,” Habetz said. “I mean, they really do. They’re special people. I know they don’t normally get recognized and I know they don’t want the recognition, but they need to be recognized for what they do.”
Habetz singled out infusion nurses for the care they provide to patients day after day.
“The infusion nurses are just a godsend,” she said. “They’re just beautiful people. They’re treating cancer patients all day and they just smile … they’re bright lights without a doubt.”
Habetz said she has dealt with nausea and sickness during treatment but has avoided more severe complications.
“Nothing that’s really debilitating,” she said. “I’ve never gotten knocked on my butt to where I had to go to the hospital, and I haven’t run a fever, which is rough on a lot of cancer patients because you don’t have an immune system.
“I’ve just been blessed.”
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