"Amazing Nick"
When Nicholas began having headaches in the spring of 2007, his parents did not think much of it. But during his spring break 2007 of his freshman year in high school, the headaches began to get worse. They took him to his pediatrician who advised them that he had flu like symptoms and if it worsened to come back in. Well, the following week it worsened. He was now getting dizzy and vomiting and couldn’t walk without assistance. Nick returned to the pediatrician who sent the family to the emergency room for a CAT scan. Of all days it was Friday the 13th.
After waiting for the results and surmising as to what it could be, a nurse came and stopped the fluids Nick was receiving and suddenly stated that the doctor would be with them in a moment. When the doctor arrived and asked to speak to mom separately, she had a sick feeling it was something serious.
The doctor came right out and told her, “Your son has a mass...it looks like a tumor.” Right there and then the lives of Nick and the rest of his family changed forever.
All mom could think of as she tried to absorb the news was how would she tell his dad that his only son has a tumor? When Nick’s dad arrived shortly afterwards and was told this dreadful news he did not take it well. But, regardless of the devastation they were experiencing as parents, they felt they had to maintain a good face for their son.
Nick was immediately admitted to the hospital. An MRI was performed and he was soon transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The next morning, the Neurosurgeon scheduled surgery. Through all this, Nick remained calm and positive. He was reassuring his parents that everything was going to be fine.
Surgery was long and agonizing but went well. Nick did great in recovery. His neurosurgeon called him, “amazing Nick,” because he did so well. Then came the dreadful part of waiting for the pathology report to return. The family left the hospital a week after surgery, but not before receiving the worse news of their lives. Nick had cancer! He was diagnosed with a brain tumor called Medulloblastoma.
Within two weeks, Nick had a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) and was scheduled for radiation. Two weeks later, he had a port surgically implanted, and radiation began for a period of a month, every day except weekends, followed by fifteen months of chemotherapy.
Through it all, Nick maintained a positive outlook. He was always smiling and very cheerful. The nurses loved him and his doctors continuously called him, “amazing Nick.” Nick has two mottos that he lives by: “When you think you’ve got it bad, someone’s got it worse,” and, “It’s only temporary.”
Nick completed his chemotherapy in July of 2008 and returned to school in August of 2008 for his junior year. In August of 2009, he had his port removed. He kept it as a souvenir to remind him of everything he’s been through.
Nick will be graduating high school on June 5th, 2010, and in the fall of 2010, Nick will be entering his freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Overall, Nick is doing great. He maintains a positive attitude and outlook on life. He knows that other kids have not been as fortunate as him, but prays that someday a cure will be found.