Nick started round 25 today, a little concerned with his heart rate again - currently at 100. Looks like the clinical trial we've had our eye on with NCI is a no-go but may have some other options out of Sloan Kettering down the road.

In the meantime, I wanted to share something about Nick. He was asked to write a little story about his trials and "happy endings" for his friend, Makelle, who was giving a talk in church. She included other stories, too. We all went to hear her talk and she delivered it flawlessly. With Nick's permission, here is his portion of her talk:

"Once upon a time, I was a young 18-year-old kid ready to graduate high school when I was was suddenly diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. A cancer that I knew nothing about, and yet it was living inside of me, trying to take my life. A cancer that has forced me to spend three of the past four years of my life in and out of the hospital getting treatments. A total of 24 rounds of chemo, 58 days of radiation, 3 surgeries, and a countless number of nights at the hospital. Through my many visits to the hospital, I was able to see first hand how cancer affects so many people and their families. It soon became clear that I not only wanted to make changes in my life but I also wanted to help others in my situation get through their trials.

​My happy ending is not that I have beaten the cancer that I am still fighting to this day. My happy ending is the gratitude and happiness that I get every year when I get to send a check through my foundation to charities of my choice. My happy ending is the emotional and spiritual peace I have found through years of summer camps with other young adults also fighting cancer. My happy ending is that I know I have made a difference and will continue to do so. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be the same person I am today if it had not been for the trials in my life. They continue to affect me physically, emotionally, and spiritually everyday. "

Amen.

Love Lori & Nick