It's not the hand you are dealt, but how you play your cards.
Circle of Faith
Our journey through life takes us to where we need to go and in 14 years, Nick has experienced some things that most people will never encounter. There is something special about Nick and his journey and although difficult to understand, his gift is his spirit and it touches those that are around him. Along the way we have come across some interesting occurrences that inspire the circle of faith.
Prayer: Throughout all three cancers there have been hundreds of people praying for Nick. He has been on so many prayer lists and in the thoughts of so many people that it would be impossible to count. The chance of Nick getting three cancers is a daunting number, but the chances of overcoming all three is a miracle. The miracle comes from prayers and blessings and we are thankful for these.
Fortune: Nick had a craving for a Kung Pao beef dish at PF Changs during his radiation treatment and when he was limited in what he could taste. There was a large basket of fortune cookies next to the take out bar and we grabbed one.
Holy Thursday: On April 9, Holy Thursday, the moon was full and it was a cold and rainy night. We had set up a small prayer garden in the back yard with a statue of St. Francis, some lilies and ferns and other plants. We went out there and said a little prayer and lit a small candle and placed it in a vented glass holder. The candle stayed lit through the storm for 24 hours.
Ash Wednesday: Nick’s surgery to biopsy his tumor was on Ash Wednesday. Nick’s dad had made it a habit each morning since diagnosis of the third cancer to randomly open his bible to a page and point to a place on the page and read the corresponding Scripture. On this day, he opened the bible and his finger landed on 1 Samuel 6:17: “These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron.”
Full Moon: On July 13, 2003 the moon was full and in the southern most part of Argentina a healer that had never met Nick was offering a prayer at midnight. This was during Nick’s second cancer and Nick had been hospitalized for fever and neutropenia (low white cell count). Nick coincidentally had his blood drawn at 8:00 p.m. (midnight in Argentina). His white blood cell count was 32,600. The normal range for the white blood cell count varies, but is usually between 4,300 and 10,800 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Nick's white blood cell count taken two days earlier was 2,000.
Cat?s Claw - uña de gato ? Uncaria Tormentosa: The healer recommended that Nick take Cat?s Claw. Cat's claw grows wild in many countries of Central and South America, especially in the Amazon Rainforest. The use of this woody vine dates back to the Inca civilization. Cat's claw has been used for centuries in South America to prevent and treat disease.
Cat?s claw contains a vinca alkaloid. These type of alkaloids are known to affect all rapidly dividing cell types including cancer cells, but also intestinal epithelium and bone marrow. One of the chemotherapy drugs Nick was taking was known as Vincristine, also known as leurocristine, also a vinca alkaloid.
Healer: When Nick was diagnosed with his second cancer, his Uncle Alex was put in touch with a healer in the southern most region of Argentina. This healer did not accept money or expect anything in return. He offered a gift. Alex sent the healer a photograph of Nick and was able to arrange a phone call with him. The healer knew a great deal about Nick and described personal things to Uncle Alex that it would have been impossible for him to know. The was that Nick take Cat’s Claw and the prediction was that Nick would overcome the cancer and lose his tumor through his nose. On December 26th Nick had a nose bleed that lasted almost 2 1/2 hours.
