Nick

How Nick is Reaching New Heights

Nick is a true inspiration and the very personification of courage. His journey with cancer began when he suddenly lost his eyesight when he was nine years old.

After several visits to the doctor, tests revealed that a brain tumor had crushed his optic nerve; an extremely rare tumor called choroid plexus papilloma. After his tumors were surgically removed, Nick embraced his new reality and immersed himself in learning opportunities.

With his mantra, “A loss of sight is not a loss in vision,” Nick challenges us all to embrace life fully, no matter the circumstances. While working toward his goals, Nick has accomplished several other notable achievements: learning Braille in less than one year, maintaining straight A’s in school, earning an “Outstanding Student Award” upon graduation, landing the lead role in his most recent school play and learning to downhill ski!

 

A loss of sight is not a loss of vision.

In July 2012, doctors discovered three additional tumors which resulted in a rigorous treatment regimen that included seven rounds chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation. As part of a trial protocol, Nick received chemotherapy injected directly into a port in his brain as well as intravenously to treat his whole central nervous system. Yet in the face of dire circumstances, his contagious positivity and his genuine passion for embracing the richness of each day has been unwavering.

Nick’s mother, a single parent, is driving him back and forth (120-miles round trip) for cancer treatments–sometimes as often as every day of the week.  The cost of gas alone has been a significant drain on finances, particularly with the holidays approaching and having another child in the house to care for and Endure to Cure’s programs help provided them with funds to meet the out-of-pocket, uninsurable travel-related expenses.

Nick’s mother, Allison, is incredibly grateful for the support and had this to say: “Driving back and forth gets incredibly expensive with all the basic costs that are incurred–the gas, parking, food.  Every bit of help Endure to Cure can provide makes a positive difference and makes it easier for us.  Thank you to all of you who put forth the effort, contributed support, and helped make this possible.  We cannot thank you enough.”