Meet Nicholas
Written by The Shannon Family
We will never forget the words: “Your son has leukemia.” It all started out as a normal day for us on October 15, 2008. Nick has blood work drawn the day before because of swollen lymph nodes. He was not sick, just a happy four year old running around. I took him to daycare that morning and the phone call came in from Nick’s pediatrician. She asked us to go to The Tomorrow Fund clinic and meet with Dr. Forman. She told us we would be in excellent hands. We were shocked, overwhelmed, and heartbroken when we heard the news. The double whammy hit us when we were told Nick has ALL (T-Cell) and will be put in the high risk category for treatment. My husband and I believed Nick would be receiving the best care, but so many questions lingered in our heads that first week.
The Tomorrow Fund helped us overcome all of this. We were immediately introduced to our Parent Consultant, Donna Cambio, who gave me an envelope with money, a daily stipend for each day in the hospital to be used towards our meals. She also gave us a parking pass to help with the expenses of my husband and I traveling back and forth to the hospital and clinic visits. We also met with our social worker, Rachel Bloch, who helped us in many ways. Rachel went to Nicholas’ school when he started kindergarten and spoke with his classmates about cancer and his port. The Tomorrow Fund also provided us with books, websites, and parent meetings to help us through the journey.
A couple of months into treatment the Tomorrow Fund offered us tickets to Disney on Ice. We were not even thinking about a family night out and the event was wonderful for Nicholas and his brother. He was able to forget about his disease for one night.
As a parent of a child with cancer, we have lived the emotional roller coaster that comes with the disease. We have not only had to come to the reality of what our child has gone through, but have also been blessed with the reality that people are inherently good. These are the special group of people who make up The Tomorrow Fund.
Nick is now finished with treatment, but continues to go for blood work. We are a part of The Tomorrow Fund family and will always be. We participate in the annual Tomorrow Fund stroll where my children, family, and friends now help raise money for the next child or a family in need. We appreciate everything The Tomorrow Fund has done for our family. We truly would have been lost during our journey without the guidance of these people and how they have helped us.
The Tomorrow Fund helped us overcome all of this. We were immediately introduced to our Parent Consultant, Donna Cambio, who gave me an envelope with money, a daily stipend for each day in the hospital to be used towards our meals. She also gave us a parking pass to help with the expenses of my husband and I traveling back and forth to the hospital and clinic visits. We also met with our social worker, Rachel Bloch, who helped us in many ways. Rachel went to Nicholas’ school when he started kindergarten and spoke with his classmates about cancer and his port. The Tomorrow Fund also provided us with books, websites, and parent meetings to help us through the journey.
A couple of months into treatment the Tomorrow Fund offered us tickets to Disney on Ice. We were not even thinking about a family night out and the event was wonderful for Nicholas and his brother. He was able to forget about his disease for one night.
As a parent of a child with cancer, we have lived the emotional roller coaster that comes with the disease. We have not only had to come to the reality of what our child has gone through, but have also been blessed with the reality that people are inherently good. These are the special group of people who make up The Tomorrow Fund.
Nick is now finished with treatment, but continues to go for blood work. We are a part of The Tomorrow Fund family and will always be. We participate in the annual Tomorrow Fund stroll where my children, family, and friends now help raise money for the next child or a family in need. We appreciate everything The Tomorrow Fund has done for our family. We truly would have been lost during our journey without the guidance of these people and how they have helped us.