Nov 4, 2025
Utica, NY – Because the Comets prepare for Muzzys and Mullets on Friday, we had the privilege of listening to the tales of two people who’ve fought courageously towards extreme sicknesses and are integral members of the Comets’ group.
Allison Eastman, 31 years outdated and a local of Deerfield, NY, was identified with neurofibromatosis at simply two months of age, a genetic dysfunction that impacts the nervous system and pores and skin, characterised by the expansion of non-cancerous tumors within the nervous system. Her life has consisted of frequent docs’ visits, MRIs, and surgical procedures. She had her first operation on the age of 12 to get a tumor faraway from her shoulder area. The illness has additionally plagued Allison with epilepsy and studying disabilities, frequent signs of neurofibromatosis, however that didn’t cease her from graduating from highschool and getting a human providers diploma in faculty.
Only recently, Allison underwent an invasive and intensive surgical procedure to take away a tumor from her spinal wire, leaving her wheelchair-bound in the intervening time. After spending 10 days within the hospital and one other 10 days in rehab, she is again house and blessed with the love and assist of her household and buddies, whom she refers to as her military.
Previous to this most up-to-date surgical procedure, Allison loved with the ability to follow a few of her favourite bodily pursuits like Judo. Submit surgical procedure, nonetheless, life has been extra restricted, having issue strolling greater than quick distances and standing for longer durations of time.
Regardless of the elevated limitations and the ache she experiences each day, Allison continues to battle as she’s achieved all through her life. One in every of her fundamental motivators, she says, is hockey. Allison joined the Comets group 4 years in the past after attending her first sport with an outdated good friend from highschool, a season ticket holder, and was immediately hooked, a lot in order that she named her cat after the Comets’ mascot, Naudie. Allison has been a season ticket holder herself for 3 years now and has turned her mother right into a fan as nicely.
Whereas Allison enjoys the quick tempo of the video games and the roar of the house crowd after massive objectives, going to Comets video games has taken on a deeper which means for her. “I don’t focus an excessive amount of on the losses as a result of for me, hockey is about group. When you’re going to hockey video games for wins, you’re going to have plenty of disappointment in life. I’ve made plenty of buddies throughout the hockey group, and we do issues collectively exterior of going to Comets video games which I feel is probably the most stunning half,” she mentioned. A few of the actions she enjoys with fellow Comets followers are bowling and attending concert events.
Allison’s optimistic outlook amidst all she’s been by is inspirational. Her message to others with neurofibromatosis, which is relevant to everybody, is to stay your life to the fullest, whether or not it’s going sky diving or driving to a unique state to see your favourite hockey crew play. She added that getting concerned in a group is significant. “Be part of one thing so you will have one thing to battle for and to sit up for so that you just don’t get wrapped up in what’s occurring. You want a motive to heel. Once you don’t have a motive to heel, no matter you’re going by can be way more troublesome. For me, combating to get higher so I can get again going to Comets video games has been my motive to battle.” Not solely was Allison on the Comets’ sport this previous Saturday towards the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, however she had the glory of performing the ceremonial puck drop, undoubtedly a vivid spot in her most up-to-date uphill battle.
Hillary Pruitt, a 33-year-old Utica resident, began her battle in 2021 when she was identified with stage two breast most cancers. After profitable surgical procedure and several other months of chemotherapy and radiation, she was declared most cancers free. This previous June, nonetheless, the Pruitt household acquired the unlucky information that Hillary’s breast most cancers got here again and had metastasized to one among her lungs and components of her mind.
Confronted with this troublesome prognosis, Hillary has dedicated to combating her most cancers as soon as once more, and her husband Austin was form sufficient to share what life has been like for Hillary and the Pruitt household. “It takes every little thing to get by it. The primary yr for her most cancers in 2021 was lengthy. We thought it was over after which just lately came upon it wasn’t.”
Austin added that Hillary has been unable to work and that her vitality degree varies day-to-day. Generally she’s in a position to take part in regardless of the household has occurring, and a few days she is pressured to relaxation. Austin mentioned that with out their assist system, life could be much more troublesome. “Our household and buddies have been unimaginable. Each day now we have individuals reaching out to us, providing to convey us dinner, and simply being prepared to take every little thing off our plate.”
Household means every little thing to Hillary, and her 20-month-old son Alexander has given her evermore energy to battle. Her message to different ladies combating the identical battle has been to place your head down and take it sooner or later at a time as a result of it’s a marathon, not a dash.
The Pruitt’s have been Comets season ticket holders for 4 years now. Hillary grew up in Virginia and though she wasn’t round hockey for many of her life or have a powerful ardour for it, she fell in love with the game when Austin introduced her to her first Comets sport seven years in the past.
Like Allison Eastman, Hillary and Austin have established a powerful reference to the Comets group which is what retains them coming again to the Adirondack Financial institution Heart. Even together with her latest bout, Hillary appears ahead to attending each Comets sport she will be able to, and it’s a part of what has fueled her to battle.
Hillary and her household will carry out the ceremonial puck drop at Muzzys and Mullets Evening this Friday, November seventh, and when requested about what the sport means to the Pruitt household, Austin mentioned, “It’s unimaginable that the group is collaborating in it. It means so much simply to know that different individuals care about what you will have occurring and that you just’re not alone.”
It’s individuals like Allison and Hillary that make the Comets group really particular, and we want them utmost energy as they proceed their particular person fights. The Comets will host the Belleville Senators on Muzzys and Mullets Evening this Friday at 7 pm. For tickets or extra data, please go to uticacomets.com/tickets or name 315-790-9070.
