Beyond the Court: Nick Behrens' Gratitude for Life

By Alex Inbornone

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 29, 2023) -- Just last year, Nick Behrens, the co-owner and athletics director of Elite Volleyball Prep Academy in Bradenton, Florida was informed he had months to live.

Initially, doctors thought Behrens was having side effects from Covid leading to inflammation of the heart. But his echocardiogram revealed otherwise.

“That’s when I knew something was wrong. They almost wouldn’t let me leave the cardiologist,” Behrens said.

A couple of weeks later, Behrens’ cardiologist delivered the news: his aortic valve was in critical condition.

“At that point they thought I had two years left to live, and it turned out when they got to me it was less than that,” he said.

Behrens was scheduled to have an operation on his aortic valve but was deemed “high risk” at the hospital he was sent to, so his surgery was canceled.

Waiting around over the next couple of days, Behrens was put in touch with a surgeon at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainsville, Florida.

“Looking back on it, I got one of the best of the best ... on December 13, I was lucky enough that they performed successful open-heart surgery,” he said.

Behrens credits his gratitude for making it through the entire process.

“To focus on the pieces you can be thankful for is huge. I’m thankful that I have friends and family and a whole volleyball community … I had this incredible family that really stepped up and was there for me. They were the main reason why I could face this the way I did,” he said.

Justin Bash, co-owner of Elite Volleyball, said his club united during Behrens' battle and recovery.

“In some ways, it really inspired our players, coaches, and our club … The opportunity for all of us to come close and support him was a unique opportunity to show strength,” Bash said. “I think the experience he went through really helped people see that life is bigger than volleyball.”

Just six months after his life-saving surgery, Behrens’ team competed in their first AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships, finishing 8-5.