Nick's Victory
After being an atheist for the first 13 years of life, the Lord used cancer to heal Nick's heart. Now that Nick has had the most important healing there is, he is fighting to heal his body. He accepts that his ultimate healing may come in Heaven and he continues to trust the Lord with the outcome as he continues battle brain cancer.
In November 2009, Nick was 13 years old when he started having flu like symptoms. After a trip to the doctor followed by the ER, he did not show improvement. We decided to take him to another ER in Jacksonville, FL and that is when our world suddenly spun out of control
Nick was diagnosed with a supratentorial PNET (brain tumor). He immediately had surgery to remove the tumor on 11/9/2009. He had some immediate post surgical complications and they decided to implant a shunt to help regulate his CSF. After recovery he received Proton (radiation therapy) as well as inpatient chemotherapy. We were blessed in so many ways! Nick found God during this time and his faith and relationship with His Savior has only gotten stronger. Treatment was completed in August 2010. Nick, and the rest of the family, was excited about getting his port taken out and starting school again.
However, he had an MRI in September 2010 and found he had a recurrence and now instead of one tumor it was three. Nick had another surgery in October 2010 to remove the tumors and it was also successful.
In December 2010 Nick lost feeling on his right side and went into the ER. They found five new spots in only a short six week period after surgery. We started treatment again on December 7, 2010. He had an MRI February 3, 2011 and it showed tumor growth in two of the tumors and three were stable.
At this point Nick has been offered palliative chemotherapy to extend his life. Our goals are for Nick to keep a good quality of life as we search for the best options for Nick. He has been given the option of going to Duke on the 17th of March to prep for a surgery to remove tumor and then create a vaccine or continue with palliative chemotherapy in an effort to extend his life. We know the Lord will guide him in his decisions.
We continue to pray for Nick's victory over cancer but we are most thankful for Nick's victory in faith. We thank God for all the miracles and blessings we have witnessed and received. Nick has been granted a peace that surpasses all understanding. He smiles and laughs everyday. He tells everyone,"God will in fact heal me! I just don't know if it will be on earth or in Heaven."
See Nick share his faith in the Lord at Ignite church at http://www.youtube.com
Visit Nick's caring bridge site to follow his journey, get prayer requests and leave words of encouragement.
UPDATE: Nick achieved the ultimate Victory on August 28, 2011 when he became cancer free and face to face with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nick also left us with his amazing personality because he hosted his own FUNeral. Pronounced like the word fun instead of the traditional way. He planned it all before he passed and in typical Nick fashion it was full of humor and charm with a clear presentation of the gospel that saved him. We love you Nick and are so blessed to have been a part of your life.