Blood Drive Springs from Tragedy

Written by Katrina Daniel Thursday, January 20 2011

Snapshot: Misty Nicholson

Eric and Misty

Misty Nicholson was widowed at a very young age, in a very public way. When her husband, South Carolina state trooper Eric Nicholson was shot to death by a fleeing felon in December 2000, she was only 25.

Faced with such tragedy, some people collapse, but there are some who overcome and conquer their circumstances. Misty Nicholson is one of those select few who rose to the challenge.

Nicholson took the tragedy that ended her husband’s life and turned it into opportunities to save the lives of others, launching a blood drive in honor of her husband and his sacrifice. The 10-year-old Trooper Eric Nicholson Blood Drive has saved countless lives and raised thousands of dollars.

Womenetics: You were 25 years old, your husband had just been shot by an armed robber he tried to stop. How were you able to gather your wits and strength to launch the blood drive?
Misty Nicholson: Few people at the time knew it, but Eric had actually donated blood less than two hours before he was killed that day. He was running radar on I-85, and I had a blood drive scheduled at my job that day. With it being December and cold/flu season, a lot of the regular donors were sick and not able to give so I called him to see if he was busy and if he could possibly stop by to give. He had type O blood, which is what they really need.

He started giving at 10:49 a.m. (which is the time I give now every year). He was pronounced dead at the hospital after noon. It has been said that he gave blood twice that day, once willingly; the other when someone took his life.

Womenetics: How have you managed to keep the spirit, the momentum going all these years?
Nicholson: I have been so lucky that people care and remember. The drives get bigger every year instead of waning like you’d think. Eric had been a blood donor since high school. It was ironic that he can be remembered for doing such a good thing just before he was killed. Each year I meet someone new with an “Eric story,” and it warms my heart that he made an impact on many people in his short 28 years.

Womenetics: What piece of advice would you offer to others who have been touched by tragedy?
Nicholson: What has helped me the most is to hold on to the positive and let go of the negative. I may look like I’ve got it under control, but no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. That’s been one of the hardest lessons, learning that grief doesn’t start at point A and end at point B. The best thing I did for myself was to find a grief counselor. To admit you need help takes more strength.

I realized early on that that hate and anger are exhausting emotions, and I didn’t have any extra emotion left over to be wasting on the person who did this to Eric. The person responsible for Eric’s death is on death row now.

Womenetics: In addition to the blood drive, you’ve also been instrumental in obtaining police dogs – K-9 officers – for the South Carolina Highway Patrol and The Greenville, S.C., sheriff’s department. What was your inspiration for that?
Nicholson: Eric had always wanted to get a German shepherd puppy and to name him Sarge. In April of 2000, we got a puppy. Unfortunately Eric was killed in December, so the training never happened. That’s how I decided to raise money to purchase a dog and donate it in Eric’s name. The dog donated to South Carolina Highway Patrol was named Tigger because everyone knew that was Eric’s nickname.

The second dog is a female. The sheriff surprised me with the announcement that he wants to name her Misty. It was truly an honor when he asked me this, and she is the first ever arson dog in Greenville County. (An arson dog is a K-9 that is trained to sniff out inflammatory substances at fire investigation crime sites.)

Womenetics: Since your husband’s murder, you have gone back to school, graduated from college, and started your own successful day spa. How do you feel about your life now?
Nicholson: I have learned to appreciate what I have now and not look too far into the future because I may be missing out on something right in front of me. I have done a lot of soul searching in the past 10 years. I have changed and grown. I am way more comfortable in my skin than I used to be. I hope that shows. I am still a work in progress, but for the first time in a long time, I am happy with myself.

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Katrina Daniel is an award-winning journalist and broadcast reporter/anchor. She has worked in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and as a national correspondent for several networks. She commutes between Miami and the Carolinas, writing for magazines and news organizations. She lives with one horse, four dogs, and a cat.