Miami University teammates find solace in basketball after family tragedies

In Oxford, Ohio, Miami University basketball players Clara Gonzalez Planella and Nuria Jurjo are finding comfort in their team and each other after losing their parents to cancer.Travel to Oxford, Ohio, and you’ll find a family of teammates as close as sisters, with coaches caring like parents, and a court that feels like home. “They’ve completely adopted and embraced who we are as a program and it’s led to some really positive results,” Miami University head coach Glenn Box said.Box cares deeply about this family, so much so that he spent last summer traveling to meet their families. He flew to Barcelona, Spain, to meet the parents of players Jurjo and Gonzalez Planella. “I think it’s easier when you truly know somebody to be able to relate with them. I felt that would give me a good feel,” Box said.However, shortly after that trip, tragedy struck. In August, Clara’s father, Juame, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Unfortunately, the cancer spread into melanoma. Clara flew home immediately and saw her father one last time for a couple of hours before he passed. “It was hard because you don’t think that it’s going to happen to you,” Clara said.At the same time, Nuria’s mother, Carmen, was battling brain cancer. Her condition worsened, prompting Nuria to return home for two weeks. “I was very happy to see her, like very happy,” Nuria said. The mother and daughter caught up on years of being an ocean apart, while Nuria’s teammates and coaches sent messages of love and support. In November, Carmen passed away. “She passed away the Saturday after I got there. Those days I was like every afternoon with her all the time. It was beautiful,” Nuria said.Now back in Oxford, Nuria and Clara are helping each other through their unimaginable loss. “It’s a blessing that we have each other,” Clara said. “I’m trying to enjoy now all I have here. I’m very grateful,” Nuria added.They honor their parents on the court with their Miami family. “I think basketball is their safe haven. They feel very comfortable being here, being with their teammates and being a part of the program,” Box said.

OXFORD, Ohio —

In Oxford, Ohio, Miami University basketball players Clara Gonzalez Planella and Nuria Jurjo are finding comfort in their team and each other after losing their parents to cancer.

Travel to Oxford, Ohio, and you’ll find a family of teammates as close as sisters, with coaches caring like parents, and a court that feels like home.

“They’ve completely adopted and embraced who we are as a program and it’s led to some really positive results,” Miami University head coach Glenn Box said.

Box cares deeply about this family, so much so that he spent last summer traveling to meet their families. He flew to Barcelona, Spain, to meet the parents of players Jurjo and Gonzalez Planella.

“I think it’s easier when you truly know somebody to be able to relate with them. I felt that would give me a good feel,” Box said.

However, shortly after that trip, tragedy struck. In August, Clara’s father, Juame, was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Unfortunately, the cancer spread into melanoma. Clara flew home immediately and saw her father one last time for a couple of hours before he passed.

“It was hard because you don’t think that it’s going to happen to you,” Clara said.

At the same time, Nuria’s mother, Carmen, was battling brain cancer. Her condition worsened, prompting Nuria to return home for two weeks.

“I was very happy to see her, like very happy,” Nuria said.

The mother and daughter caught up on years of being an ocean apart, while Nuria’s teammates and coaches sent messages of love and support. In November, Carmen passed away.

“She passed away the Saturday after I got there. Those days I was like every afternoon with her all the time. It was beautiful,” Nuria said.

Now back in Oxford, Nuria and Clara are helping each other through their unimaginable loss.

“It’s a blessing that we have each other,” Clara said.

“I’m trying to enjoy now all I have here. I’m very grateful,” Nuria added.

They honor their parents on the court with their Miami family.

“I think basketball is their safe haven. They feel very comfortable being here, being with their teammates and being a part of the program,” Box said.