Nina Rosaria Harkonen

Nina Rosaria Harkonen was born on May 2, 2004 in Troy, Michigan. She went home to be with the Lord on December 22, 2024 after battling a rare kidney cancer, hereditary leiomyomatosis renal (kidney) cell cancer, or HLRCC https://hlrcc.org/. She is survived by her parents, Christopher and Antoinette (Toni) Harkonen, and her older brother Mario Harkonen of St. Clair Shores, MI. She is also survived by her eldest brother Christopher Stanley of San Diego, CA, her grandmother Betty Jean Meli of New Baltimore, MI, her grandmother Velia Garza Harkonen of Grand Blanc, MI and her grandfather John Harkonen of Farmington Hills, MI. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, two nieces and a nephew. Nina has joined her late grandfather in heaven, James Meli who went on to be with the Lord in 2017.
Nina was a 2022 graduate of Lake Shore High School of St. Clair Shores, MI and she completed one year of college at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. Nina was a business major and because of her love of numbers and math, she had considered specializing in accounting.
HLRCC cancer is so rare, only 200-300 families are diagnosed with the disease, perhaps 1500 or so patients worldwide. People with HLRCC are born with one mutated copy of the fumerate hydratase gene in each cell causing a buildup of fumerate. Excess fumarate may interfere with the regulation of oxygen levels in the cell. Chronic oxygen deficiency in cells with two mutated copies of the FH gene may encourage tumor formation and result in the tendency to develop leiomyomas and renal cell cancer. HLRCC is an incurable cancer with no specific protocol for treatment.
Because of its rarity, it is often underdiagnosed. Nina was only officially diagnosed in August of 2023. Despite the grim uncertainties of this diagnosis, she faced this challenge with bravery and determination to live. Nina was known for her big personality, her sense of humor and her love and compassion towards others. Her Christian faith played a central role in her life especially during her illness. Her faith never wavered and became stronger towards the end of her short life. She was the epitome of the scripture "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Timothy 4:7. Nina will be greatly missed by all.