Miyah Telemaque-Nelson, 6, died Monday, Dec. 8, after a lengthy battle with cancer, and her death made ripples in the pop world and the sports community. The young girl had befriended Nicki Minaj and Washington Wizards star John Wall over the past year.
“I can't believe this little angel is gone,” Minaj wrote on Instagram. “When I met her she was recovering. Sending love to her mother and family and John. This is heartbreaking. She was so full of life. #RIPMiyah”
A photo posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:00am PST
NBA standout Wall had also spent a lot of time with the young girl. He’d been writing her name on his shoes all season and spoken to her via FaceTime just two weeks ago, according to CSN Washington. A moment of silence was held for Telemaque-Nelson before the Wizards’s game against the Boston Celtics Monday night, and Wall wrote “RIP Miyah” on his sneakers.
His postgame interview made national headlines after he broke down crying.
"This game was really meant for her,” he said. “It would've been an even tougher day to lose it. I just went into a mode where I didn't want to lose this game."
Wall later took to Twitter to make a statement about Telemaque-Nelson.
“If you were blessed to meet and get to know Miyah you know how special of a little girl she was,” Wall said. “I'm saddened by the news but I know that she's in a better place. Keep her family in your prayers. I'll definitely miss my buddy. Rest In Peace Miyah.”
If you were blessed to meet and get to know Miyah you know how special of a little gir... https://t.co/FjGYmt9oZR pic.twitter.com/twA7IjMI4k — John Wall (@JohnWall) December 9, 2014
