This is an opinion column by Niagara Health Communications Specialist Maria Pashynsky, published in the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and Welland Tribune.
Nolan Soucie at home, with a few familiar markers in the background: a talent show award, his guitar and a nod to his favourite NHL team.
When Nolan Soucie takes the mic before a Fort Erie Meteors game, he brings the arena to life and fills it with pride.
Singing the national anthem from centre ice, he's not just a hockey fan - he's a symbol of resilience and joy in the face of adversity.
Soucie lives with cerebral palsy and kidney disease. He undergoes dialysis three times a week, with each session lasting nearly four hours. But when he sings, none of that defines him.
“Nolan shows what it looks like to live fully while managing serious health challenges,” said Niagara Health registered nurse Robyn Nikisher, who has worked with Soucie since 2018. “He’s not defined by illness. He gives people hope — not just kidney patients, but anyone going through something difficult.”
“Nolan is not defined by illness. He gives people hope — not just kidney patients, but anyone going through something difficult.”
Singing has been part of Soucie’s life since he was six, a tradition inspired by his father, who once refereed in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. His passion for music and hockey is matched by his determination.
Soucie lives with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affects muscle co-ordination and movement. His symptoms became more noticeable at age three, and at about age 12 he transitioned to using a wheelchair when he could no longer walk with a walker.
As a youth, he received physical therapy at Niagara Children’s Centre, which included targeted cerebral palsy exercises. At about seven or eight, he underwent successful surgery at SickKids to insert pins and plates in his hips — a procedure that gave him more comfort and mobility.
In 2017, he was diagnosed with kidney disease after sudden leg swelling led to urgent tests and hospitalization. Shortly after, he began dialysis at Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines.
Now, with hopes of a future kidney transplant, Soucie continues to show up at the rink, on the mic and in life.
While one specialist initially gave the green light, three surgeons later advised against a transplant due to the high risks of surgery related to his physical condition and cerebral palsy. He’s now waiting to be assessed for another opinion in London, a process that could take up to a year.
While he waits, Soucie continues to pour energy into the things that bring him purpose.
“I don’t let anything hold me back,” he said. “If there is something I want to do, I find a way to do it.”
One of his favourite moments was the day his hockey team won the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference championship league trophy in 2024 and handed it to him to hold.
“It just felt like I was part of something bigger,” he recalled.
For him, resilience isn’t just a personal trait, it’s a way of life. He is determined to live a life of purpose and community spirit.
Nolan Soucie with his partner of 11 years, Brianna Norman.
Soucie regularly plays in a music group at Welland Community Centre.
He once performed at a talent show in 2022, and sang Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” He took third place
“I forgot my shoes that day, but we had a blast. We called ourselves the Shoeless Duo,” he said with a laugh. The nickname stuck between him and his friend, roommate and fellow performer Jesse Wray Robbins.
While Soucie’s drive and optimism are undeniable, he is quick to credit those around him who make his busy life possible.
From his wife Brianna Norman to his health-care team, Soucie is surrounded by support that helps him stay active, hopeful and independent.
“We take care of each other,” Norman said. “He motivates me and I motivate him. We’re a team.”
The two met in 2014, connecting online before building a life filled with hockey games, concerts and plans for the future.
“I thought he was adorable,” Norman said with a laugh. “He’s honest, trustworthy and so full of life. He really does inspire everyone around him.”
Soucie doesn’t solely rely on support — he’s an advocate for himself in every aspect of his life.
“Wherever you want to get, you’ve got to push to get there,” he said. “You’ve got to use your words and speak up for yourself.”
He also finds ways to make the dialysis experience itself more enjoyable. Nikisher’s personality helps with that, he said.
“We talk a lot. She keeps it light, even on tough days,” he said. “One time, she gave me this little purple kidney toy before taking my picture. We laughed and said, ‘Too bad it’s not real.’ We’re still trying to name it.”
Soucie said Nikisher reminds people to take care of themselves, but is ‘chill’ about it. He leaves dialysis in a better mood when she’s around.
Music, sports, volunteer work and upcoming travel plans are what Soucie and his partner are looking forward to this summer. They are planning a wheelchair-accessible vacation in the north, where Nolan will be able to do dialysis while relaxing near the water.
“We stay busy,” Norman said. “We’ve always got something to look forward to. Whether it’s Jackfish games, concerts on the canal or the Rose Festival, there is always something coming up that we are looking to attend.”
Nikisher said many kidney patients hope for a transplant.
“When you see what Nolan has achieved while still on dialysis, it’s inspiring. It shows what’s possible even before reaching that next step,” she said. “Nolan’s story isn’t just about illness — it’s about living fully, giving back and showing others that strength can take you further than you ever imagined.”
Soucie said his life isn’t shaped by limitations, but by his passions, purpose and the people who believe in him.
“Hope keeps me going,” Soucie said. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I’ll keep living it on my own terms, with a lot of music, a lot of laughs and a lot of heart.”
