Wishes in the Making

Fighting B-cell Lymphoma

Wish: Trip with Friends
I had just graduated high school and was ready to move in for college before getting diagnosed. I was a captain of my high school swim and water polo team, and I enjoyed goofing around and hanging out with my teammates. I also was a captain of the Science Olympiad team. I mainly competed in build events because I enjoy projects that involve creating stuff to optimize a task or solve a problem. I was having a wonderful senior year, getting to compete at state in all of the extracurriculars I previously mentioned.

My life has been a lot different since I was diagnosed. Firstly, I wasn't able to go to college. It was depressing watching all my friends go to college and have fun, while I was stuck undergoing 6 intense rounds of chemo. My social life also has been a lot different since my white cell counts have been low from the chemo. I haven't been able to go out and hang out with my friends as much because of it. In addition, most of my friends are in school so they have less time to hang out with me. There were a lot of physical and medical issues I was having too like not being able to walk, NPO, and nerve pain, but I have recovered from most of those.

I was thinking of going on a trip with a few of my friends somewhere warm. I am not exactly sure of where, but I guess that will depend on the budget.

Fighting Testicular Cancer - Embryonal carcinoma

Wish: Hawaii
I was diagnosed when I was 18 years, I was a senior in High School. I started playing soccer when I was 4 years old and my parents put me in a travel team when I was 6. Soccer was life for me and my plan was to play in a D1 university. I found out I had cancer in January 2023, I was told I was going to have a surgery to remove the tumor in late January. I had a CT scan that showed my cancer spread to my abdominal lymph nodes. I had a RPLND in mid March and 4 lymph nodes came back cancerous. At that time my school put on me homebound. My care team suggested I do surveillance based on the guidelines. In late April my first surgical incision started draining and was open. It took my doctors almost 6 months to get it cleaned and closed. My plan was to play D1 but that didn't happen since I didn't know what was next. I stopped talking to the coaches and decided to go to community college instead. In late December my CT scan had some slight changes. I decided to take the spring semester off. In February of 2024 a repeat CT scan showed some enlarged lymph nodes. I was informed that I needed to do chemotherapy. I did a total of 9 cycles that consisted of the 1st week - 5 days, 2nd & 3rd weeks - 1 day and it would start all over again. Towards the end I started feeling sick and tired. My white blood cell count went down and I needed to get injected to help my bone marrow. The injection would make me feel extra tired, bone pain and gave me chills. On my last chemo I went home but spiked up a high fever, I went back to get checked and I found out I had Covid. They gave me medicine to help my weak immune system and that helped me not get too sick. In May I went for a CT scan that showed a partial response. I was sad to find out that chemo didn't work and I didn't know what was next. My oncologist suggested RPLND, my urologist didn't want to do the surgery because it was a high risk surgery. He decided to continue monitoring more frequently. Earlier this month I went for an MRI and it was great news. My enlarged lymph nodes were no longer visible which means the chemo worked. I'm back on surveillance and happy to now I can go back to my normal life.

I plan to work the rest of the year and go back to community college to get some credits and hopefully transfer to a University to play D1 liked I always wanted too.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would like to go to Hawaii with my family. When I played travel we used to on out of town a lot and make some trips a family vacation. We haven't had a vacation since I was diagnosed in 2023. My parents were affected financially since my mom took medical leave to take care of me after my surgery and worked less hours to take me to my chemo sessions. My younger brothers also play soccer but are not traveling like me. It affected them as well because my mom was always with me and was not that involved in their activities. This vacation will give us time to spend together and celebrate that I can sleep again at night knowing that for now I'm good and that we can be in a better place.

Wish Owner: Northwestern Illinois Building Trades

Fighting Germ Cell Cancer

Wish: Either or I love to experience life through events but also a gift is something I will always be grateful for! Both way I would be absolutely thankful even just getting the opportunity.
When I first got diagnosed when I was you ger life just seemed to fly by I knew I had cancer but i didn't know I had it as severe as I did to me I was still able to play and be so what of a normal kid as I got older it was all a blur. This time around being 18 it felt like some one put me in jail. My whole life stopped literally I had to quickly plan around final and think about next school semester while all I feel the need to do is sleep. Regardless of my disappointment I try and remind myself of all the love and support I am blessed to have in my life and that with the help of God all get through this with patience and strength.

Wish Owner: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restrants

Fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Wish: A trip to the beach with my family.
Before the diagnosis I was a normal young adult. I had just moved out on my own and had my very first place. I was independent and was working to support myself. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends, my family and going to church. I really enjoyed having the time with my sisters, going to our favorite restaurants and just riding around.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
1. A trip to the beach with my family. Going through this illness has made me appreciate my family and how precious life is.

2. A shopping spree - Because the expenses of my treatments are expensive, the traveling back and forth, hotels, foods, moving, meds you name takes a lot of our family resources. So it would be nice to be able to get some want things.

3. Tickets to see Chris Brown in concert because he has always been my favorite performer since I was a teenager.

Wish Owner: Sydstrong Foundation

Fighting Leukemia APL

Wish: Hawaii
I am the oldest of three girls. I was ready to go off to college and pursue my degree in nurse practitioner. I was very excited since I was going to be the first in my family to go to college and it has been my mothers dream to see me succeed in life. She pushed me day and night to educate myself since she was not able to go to college herself. My mother helped me see how caring I am and how much I would be able to help others since both of my parents come from immigrant families. I then decided to apply for FASFA and they were able to help me financially. I was ready to start my new chapter in life when on September 1st of 2023 after a regular follow up appointment I got the worse news in my life. I was diagnosed with leukemia. I was then rushed to Seattle's Childrens Hospital. It was at first unknown what kind of leukemia until after days of lab work, I was diagnosed with Leukemia APL. I was informed I would have to stay in the hospital for a unknown time. That my life that I had known and had planned would never be the same again and that everything would have to be put on hold. I had to leave my whole family behind and only my mom was going to be on my side. It was really difficult because I then realized how ill I was. I was suffering from pain and medication side effects. It was one month as inpatient yet it seemed a eternity. During the time at the hospital I could not avoid getting depressed because my whole life changed and I found myself fighting for my life. It has been hard to think that I am not able to go to college until I am done with this chapter in my life. I had to change my focus and try to find positive things in all this situation. For example I am now grateful I went to the doctor when I did. That I am thankful that the doctors were able to save my life and that I will eventually be able to pick up where I left from. I am know half ways in the treatment. I look forward eating and drinking simple things I am now not able to, for example sunnyside up eggs. A good cup of coffee sounds amazing. I now have a second chance to life and I will follow my dreams and I will work very hard to become a nurse practitioner since I now know how it feels to be a patient in need of care. I will forever be thankful for all the support I have received from Seattle's Childrens Hospital staff, social works, and family.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I have a wish to go with my whole family to Hawaii. I wish I could go with my family since before this we would go camping, swim and try to find new places to enjoy our family. I wish I could get my wish so I can enjoy time with my family and do what we love to but Hawaii has always been a dream place that I have been wanting to go and we were saving up to go but because of my illness my parents used much of our savings for my mom to travel back and forth to and from Seattle to Othello.

Fighting Diffuse Midline Glioma

Wish: Universal Studios
I was diagnosed with brain and spine cancer in July of 2022. Before I was diagnosed, I was a freshman in college. I was living independently in a dorm, meeting new friends, and working on my degree. I've always been a creative, energetic, and positive person. Qualities my cancer diagnosis can never take from me. In May of 2022, my younger sister was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She's my best friend and it was the worst thing in the world watching her go through that, but she's a fighter and beat it just months later in November. Throughout high school I experienced neck and shoulder pain as well as terrible headaches. It all started going downhill when the summer before my sophomore year, more symptoms popped up including blurry vision. I went to the ophthalmologist and they quickly suggested I go to the ER. I'd never been to the ER before so, rightfully so, I was so nervous. They did some scans and the hospital bed was horrible. The docs came back after what felt like forever and told me they found something in my brain. Everything escalated from there. Two weeks later and I had brain surgery to remove the tumor, a month or so later I started radiation therapy, and after I completed that, started chemotherapy. Through all of this craziness I was continuing my degree, but online. I was about to go back that spring which was amazing as I made some of my very best friends that semester since joining a sorority. For a while everything was shrinking and even clearing up (which doesn't happen in tumors like mine). It felt like such a miracle. Now, I am about to start a clinical trial out of University of Michigan at Mott as new spots have started to show up. I have made it a goal to keep my spirits up by maintaining a positive attitude. I am blessed to have the most amazing friends and family ever who keep me lifted and loved. I will never let my diagnosis keep me from being the person I am and I am proud of myself for not letting my fight with cancer get me down.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I really would love to go to Universal Studios with my family because I love spending time with them and I'm OBSESSED with Harry Potter. I love the warm weather Florida has and roller coasters are my favorite.

Fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Wish: Trip out west to get in touch with nature, fresh air, and peace.
In high school I was active in football, bowling and tennis. After graduation, I continued my education at Bowling Green State University where I was majoring in Aviation to become a pilot. Over summer break, I obtain a job doing construction. While doing a concrete job, I notice that I was getting unusually tired and started having pain in my back. Over the next couple of days, I began to feel ill and thought I may have COVID. On September 11, 2021 around 3:00AM, I woke up to sever back pain and I knew something was wrong. My roommate took me to the ER where they did extensive blood work to conclude that I either had Leukemia or Lymphoma. They sent me The James and The Ohio State University hospital where it was confirmed that I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. We requested to be transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital for medical management.

The news hit myself and family very hard as would be expected. Everything changed on that day. I left my apartment and moved back home, and due to being immunocompromised during a pandemic, I became very isolated. I have spent much time in the hospital due to complications of blood clot at my port site, mediastinal pneumo, anaphylaxis from one of the chemo medications, inability to clear the high-dose methotrexate out of my body, weight loss due to the extreme vomiting, multiple blood transfusions, allergic reaction to the blood products, spinal taps with intrathecal chemo, and the appendicitis (with the additional diagnosis of a different type of malignant tumor), it was extremely taxing on all of us. My mom had to administer blood thinner injections twice a day for about a year, and, due to the anaphylaxis, the medical team had to replace each IV pegasparagenas dose with 12 intramuscular injections (2 injections every other day) in my thighs (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, for 2 weeks) for which we had to drive to the hospital to get. I think this totaled up to be 36 trips and 72 injections. I went from a strong 225 lbs (when I first sensed something wasn't feeling right) to165.

After 2 years and 3 months of being in treatment and my life being on hold, I am finally starting to feel a little more like myself. I am working to improve my endurance and strength but I know it is going to take some time. I am so grateful to have had the support of my immediate and extended family, friends and medical team at Nationwide Children's Hospital throughout this journey.

Going through all of this has given me a different perspective on the fragility of life. I am currently re-evaluating my educational goals to seek clarity regarding a career that will better me serve my purpose in life.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would love to have the opportunity to take my family on a vacation since we have not been able to do anything over that past 2 plus years. We all desperately could use the relaxation, stress-free time together celebrating life as we don't know what tomorrow may bring. I want to do this for my family to show them how much I appreciate their unfailing love and support through this chapter of my life. These past couple of years have been the most stressful time in our lives and it would be great to be stress-free and have some fun.

We were trying to organize a trip over spring break (March 17-24) to Disney in Orlando or a trip out west for 2 weeks over the summer (open dates). During my treatment, as I mentioned I was very isolated and spent many nights in the hospital, so I watched a great deal of movies. I would really like to go see the Star Wars-Galaxies Edge and the Harry Potter World because they are two of my favorites series that I watched. We grew up watching Disney classics and I would love to experience the Magic Kingdom with them as well.

Because I understand the limited time before spring break, I thought it be best to provide a second option for my wish and that is a trip out west over the summer. My family has never had the opportunity to travel out west and these places are on my bucket list of destinations. Here are the most desired locations that we would like to see: Yellowstone National Park, The BadLands National Park, Yosemite National Park, Arches National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Redwood National Park, and any other opportunity to get in touch with nature, fresh air, and peace.

I certainly understand that you receive many requests so I would like to thank you in advance for your time and consideration in granting me this wish.

Fighting Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Wish: Apartment Makeover by an Interior Designer
Unfortunately, even before this I was always the sick kid. I had kidney issues since I was 7, so I was in and out of the hospital until I received my transplant in 2018. College was essentially the first time I was able to go to school and build a life. Then of course COVID put a stop to things, and now at the end of 2022 I had to essentially give so much of myself up to the hospital again once I was diagnosed. I really had to grow up all over, re-access my mental health, emotional, and even spiritual health as I'm going through this. I've changed in such a short amount of time that it surprised me, but I'm going through this knowing I can, without losing myself. It truly is a difficult journey, but one I am not stepping down from.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would love to have an apartment makeover by an interior designer. To be able to work with someone who would be able to focus my ideas and create a space where I feel like I can call home. I've never had that feeling before, so to have that dream come true would be everything for me.

Fighting Recurrent Rhabdomyosarcoma

Wish: I'm hoping Nik's wish can find an artist who can help me with a book I'm writing. I need someone familiar with the Japanese Manga style of art. It's been a dream of mine to write something in this style. I have the story however Manga is all illustration.

I was first diagnosed 11/2009, eight months after my dad passed away . He was my best friend, we did a lot of things together. I was in 2rd grade and loving school. I played soccer on a team and with my dad.
The Summer was sad, and lonely and I was looking forward to going back to school, and seeing my friends. I was in school almost 2 months when I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. It was my first time with cancer.
Over the last 16 years I've been diagnosed with cancer six times. I've been in and out of school, I worked hard to keep my grades up, even when my puke bucket was as my best friend.
I graduated high school with a 4.0 average, and quite a few college credits. I was accepted into R.I.T. and studied video game design and development. I was in my senior year with only 4 classes left for graduation when I was rushed to the hospital again by ambulance. This time the cancer was in my heart. I was all alone with in Rochester, NY, 8 hours from home. I had to call my mom and give her the news. It was devastating. My mom flew up to be by my side. She's been through all of this with me. I call her " my Rock". After 3 weeks in the hospital near campus I was flown to Long Island where I live. Angel Med Flights was kind enough to take me and my mom back to Stony Brook Medical Center where my doctors are. I was in the hospital for 3 months with multiple complications.
Unfortunately, cancer stole my college degree and diploma. I was granted an Honorary Degree but it not the same. I worked so hard, I missed my home, my dog, my mom, and my friends. I got to attend graduation but I don't have a diploma. Cancer has stolen so much from me and now it's taken away my right to call myself a college graduate.
Since I was diagnosed with cancer in my heart in 9/22. I've been diagnosed with brain cancer 12/23 I had 1 tumor surgically removed and I still have 1 in my brain. 1/24 I was diagnosed with cancer in my abdomen. At this time I am fighting cancer in 3 different areas of my body. I've suffered many complications, had many surgeries, and so much radiation that I probably glow in the dark. I wish I could say I made it to the other side of cancer, but I can't. I'm in treatment, and in spite of it all I'm ok, not great, but ok.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I'm hoping Nik's wish can find an artist who can help me with a book I'm writing. I need someone familiar with the Japanese Manga style of art. It's been a dream of mine to write something in this style. I have the story however Manga is all illustration. I've searched for an artist but I can't afford their fee. Both myself and my mom are busy with my illness. Neither of us is working.

Fighting brain tumor astrocytoma, high grade

Wish: Nashville
Prior to be diagnosed my life was normal; I was going to school at Pitt Community College and working. My life was not filled with medical appointments.
Currently my life is filled with doctor/medical appointments.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would like to attend the Summer Olympics or take a trip to Nashville, Tennessee with my family.
Family would include: Rachel Wahlen (Grandmother), Francine Cooke (Grandmother), and Tommy Cooke (Grandfather). Trip to Summer Olympics would be great because I love swimming and I would love to go to Paris. Trip to Nashville would be great because I love country music.

Wish Owner:Karen Camper

Fighting High Risk - B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Wish: Beach
I was a very active person; I would help others in need. Because I am Hispanic I would help other families by taking them to appointments and providing transportation. I was also working and going to school at Pitt Community College. I would travel and go places on the weekend for more exposure to different places.

Things have completely changed. I am no longer active; at all. I can't even walk for 30 minutes. I also am very fatigued due to my blood counts. I am no longer work or going to school. I am fatigued and have body aches. It sometimes hurts to move. I am not longer able eat like I used to. Everything has change.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
A family trip somewhere; to relax and feel at ease; away from medical treatment.
Florida would be nice (Anna Maria Island, Florida), Mountains of NC, or New York City, Or Shopping spree for Lego's.

I was diagnosed when I was 18 years, I was a senior in High School. I started playing soccer when I was 4 years old and my parents put me in a travel team when I was 6. Soccer was life for me and my plan was to play in a D1 university. I found out I had cancer in January 2023, I was told I was going to have a surgery to remove the tumor in late January. I had a CT scan that showed my cancer spread to my abdominal lymph nodes. I had a RPLND in mid March and 4 lymph nodes came back cancerous. At that time my school put on me homebound. My care team suggested I do surveillance based on the guidelines. In late April my first surgical incision started draining and was open. It took my doctors almost 6 months to get it cleaned and closed. My plan was to play D1 but that didn't happen since I didn't know what was next. I stopped talking to the coaches and decided to go to community college instead. In late December my CT scan had some slight changes. I decided to take the spring semester off. In February of 2024 a repeat CT scan showed some enlarged lymph nodes. I was informed that I needed to do chemotherapy. I did a total of 9 cycles that consisted of the 1st week - 5 days, 2nd & 3rd weeks - 1 day and it would start all over again. Towards the end I started feeling sick and tired. My white blood cell count went down and I needed to get injected to help my bone marrow. The injection would make me feel extra tired, bone pain and gave me chills. On my last chemo I went home but spiked up a high fever, I went back to get checked and I found out I had Covid. They gave me medicine to help my weak immune system and that helped me not get too sick. In May I went for a CT scan that showed a partial response. I was sad to find out that chemo didn't work and I didn't know what was next. My oncologist suggested RPLND, my urologist didn't want to do the surgery because it was a high risk surgery. He decided to continue monitoring more frequently. Earlier this month I went for an MRI and it was great news. My enlarged lymph nodes were no longer visible which means the chemo worked. I'm back on surveillance and happy to now I can go back to my normal life.

Fighting B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Wish: Soccer wish
My name is Mateo and I am originally from Ecuador. I am currently living in the US with my father, step-mother, and half-sister. In 2019 I was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and received 2-years of chemotherapy treatment. I had been off of chemotherapy a little over a year when I found out that I had relapsed. I was hospitalized 2/7/2024 and am currently still in the hospital. I will need to get a stem cell transplant due to my relapse.

I was working as a soccer coach before my relapse and unfortunately cannot work right now. I hope to get back to coaching once I am out of the hospital.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I have dreamed about meeting Neymar Jr. since I was 10-years-old. He has come to the US to play but I have not been able to watch him play because the tickets were too expensive. It would be great to get to meet him or to watch him play. It would even be great to get a video from him or to get some signed memorabilia. Thank you so much for considering my wish.

Fighting Metastatic Colorectal cancer

Wish: Hawaii
I was diagnosed with cancer my sophomore year of nursing school. I was also on the swim team at the time. I underwent treatment, but have been diagnosed and undergone treatment three times. Each diagnosis was very difficult, but I have been very privileged to not have to put my life completely on pause during my treatments and have been able to graduate and begin my career as a nurse.

I would like to go to Hawai'i island and visit Hawai'i volcano national park. My top item on my bucket list is to visit all the national parks and I have been slowly checking them off my bucket list over the years. Getting to visit the volcanoes would be a life changing experience and I'm very excited to potentially have the opportunity to visit. Additionally, I no longer live with my immediate family. I currently live with my partner. I was hoping to go on this trip with my partner and my 2 sisters. Thank you for your consideration!

Wish Owner: Wildfire & Big Bowl Restaurants and Lettuce Entertain You

Fighting Desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma

Wish: Meet Tyler Perry
Well , Before my life was normal , a normal Hi Jay how was your day at school today from my mom and my response would be all of the excitement from that entire school day , I've had many Fun arts and drama classes that really captured my heart I'm actually a member of JC Casablanca's my parents actually put me in acting classes , Tyson Beckford actually gave me an acting approval but of course he said I was no model (I guess Mr. Beckford could'nt stand the competition I come with LOL) , I used to even go on boat rides with my Family and girlfriend we use to just be able to frolic and play on our property with not one concern. I worked proudly to support myself at the age of 18 I fought to graduated with honors and without any downtime committed to enrolling in college the following semester... now we're here but things are looking up!!!"
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would love to visit St. Croix for the fun and also for the healing parts of the water and or even Japan one day, Japan because I'm connected to anime ,the beautiful views and their fantastic food selection. I would love to meet Tyler Perry!

Fighting Osteosarcoma

Wish: Hawaii
My life before Osteosarcoma was that of a normal teen. I had always been active and participated in High School football. I graduated with honors in May 2022.
As high school came to a close, I was planning my future career options. I had been accepted to UW-Madison, but decided to work as a Heavy Equipment Operator until I found what I wanted to spend my career doing. I loved being a heavy equipment operator, as it provided me the independence every 18yr old craves and an excellent income. I was well on my way into my "real life" beginning adulthood phase.
On November 18th, 2022, "real life" hit me in a way I never expected. I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma after having knee pain that would not go away. I have felt every emotion possible; scared that I am going to die, angry that it is happening to me, jealous of my friends starting their lives, careers and college while my life is stuck in neutral. I have also had emotions that I didn't expect; appreciation of the love of my friends and family, humor where you least expect it and an inner strength I didn't know I possessed. There are truly great things that can be found during our darkest times.
I started chemo in December 2022, had leg reconstruction in May 2023, and will finish chemo at the end of August 2023. I then will shift my life out of neutral and begin the next phase of my future.

What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I would like to take a trip to Hawaii with three people who have been by my side. This would be a trip of a lifetime and possibly my only chance to visit Hawaii.
I would like to share this experience with my girlfriend Jaci, whose love for me has never wavered since my diagnosis and throughout treatment. Also, my parents Laurie and Tony had to cancel their anniversary trip to Hawaii because of my diagnosis. It would be truly special if we could all experience this together. Thank you to NIKSWISH for all you do for people in my situation.

Wish Owner: UW Madison

Fighting Hepatoblastoma

Wish: Game Knights with Jimmy Wong, Josh Lee Kwai, and my favorite streamer Kenji Egashira.

When I was a kid, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. I tried out many different hobbies such as karate, BMX, drumming, tennis and fencing, but the one that always stuck with me was airplanes. I built and flew model planes, made every school assignment I could about them, and researched from the Wright brothers up to the present about anything that graced the skies.
During my last year of high school, I decided I needed to do something with airplanes. I started looking into colleges and flight schools, but I didn't have any money. My family wasn't poor, but I knew I'd need to take out loans if I wanted further education. So I turned my attention to the military. There are plenty of military programs to pay for school, but I had also grown tired of studying and doing schoolwork at this point. I just wanted to do something with my life. My family has a rich military history, and I loved the idea of serving my country, protecting my loved ones, and traveling the world, not to mention free school, so the Air Force was an obvious choice.
When I enlisted, I didn't care which job they gave me as long as it had something to do with airplanes, but I wouldn't find out my assignment until I completed basic training. When I found out I'd be working on F-16 fighter jets, my favorite out of all modern aircraft, it was like a dream come true.
Throughout training I got to learn about the inner workings of the most badass plane to ever exist. At my first duty station, Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, I fell in love with the fast paced, high stress, lives on the line job that is being a Crew Chief. We inspect the jets, make sure they're safe to fly, and fix any problems that arise on the ground or in flight. I grew to love the hard work, long days, and punishing maintenance, as well as lifting weights after work, doing my best to be as healthy and strong as I could.
At my second duty station in Spangdahlem, Germany, I was finally able to start traveling. Sometimes for pleasure, but mostly on the Air Force's dime. I went to Romania, Portugal, France, Iceland, and many more places, the whole time honing my skills to be the best I could be. In Portugal this was recognized and I was given the opportunity to fly in the back seat of one of our jets. I still look back fondly on that as the best day of my life. Another dream came true, and this time it wasn't by chance, I had earned it.
I kept working hard and seizing every opportunity offered to me, the most recent being a trip to Iceland. We worked hard, but also took time to explore the island, seeing a ton of cool places and spending time with my friends who had grown to be more of a family. During the last three days of the trip, we were packing up our equipment and getting ready to get ourselves and the jets back home to Germany. I noticed a pain in my side similar to a runner's stitch, but I had a job to do and I couldn't afford to look weak. Over the next few days this pain in my side grew until it was almost unbearable.
The night we got back to Germany I went straight to the ER, which was luckily only a couple blocks from my apartment. They did an ultrasound of my abdomen, after which they determined something was wrong with my liver and asked me to come back the next day for more tests. Another ultrasound and an MRI later, I was informed I have a giant tumor on my liver about 11 cm in diameter. When I called my mom to tell her, she immediately booked a flight all the way from Wisconsin. During the weekend the hospital held me, my good friend, mentor, and supervisor, SSgt Cole McGriff came to visit me every night. He would bring me sushi and other meals and kept me company well past visiting hours.
When my mom arrived, we had a consultation with a surgeon who explained where my tumor was and what his plan would be to remove it. From there, we decided to get a second opinion at Landstuhl Army Hospital, where they referred us to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Sergeant McGriff gave us a ride back to Landstuhl a few days later, where we then bussed to Ramstein Air Base to take a C-17 all the way to Maryland where WRNMMC is.
At Walter Reed, I received another battery of tests, scans, and evaluations. My surgeon, Dr. Jamie Robinson, and her team came up with a surgical plan to remove the tumor along with about 70% of my liver. The liver would regrow, and I'd be cancer free in just a few weeks. The surgery went smoothly, and I was out of the hospital in 3 days. At this point my dad had taken time off work and came to Maryland to be with me and my mom. He helped me walk up and down the halls of the room we were given, in and out of the car, and even showering.
My incision stretched from my sternum all the way down and around to my right hip, with 64 staples holding me together. The recovery was painful, it was hard to sleep at night, and the pain meds I was prescribed gave me a foggy feeling I disliked, but hey I had beaten cancer, and that was worth all the pain and suffering. I still had about 6 weeks of recovery time left, the oncologist said chemo is rarely effective against this type of cancer, and we got clear margins during the surgery anyway, so I petitioned to go home to Wisconsin to finish out recovery, then go back to Germany when I was clear to do so.
Fast forward 5 weeks and I'm getting ready to get back to my life, when the phone rings. I answered it to hear my oncologist on the other end telling me that they were wrong about which type of cancer I had, and that I should start chemo right away to make sure it doesn't come back. He wanted me to come back to Maryland for 6 months of treatments, to which I responded "Absolutely not." The university hospital near me and is fantastic and nationally ranked at treating cancer, not to mention the multiple studies that show better survival rates for patients with support systems. I would not leave my family. Thankfully the Air Force was sympathetic and let me stay here. The team at WRNMMC sent all my files over to UW Children's Hospital because my tumor is generally seen in babies, so the adult hospital isn't as well equipped to deal with it.
I met with the team at UWAFCH, who is absolutely amazing and headed by my oncologist, Dr. Therese Woodring. She explained how the treatments would work, that I needed an implant called a "port" to administer it, and reassured us about the whole process. I was never worried for a second, I had already beaten cancer and this was just a precaution to ensure it doesn't come back. I'm a strong guy mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, but nothing could have prepared me for the gut punch that was Dr. Woodring explaining to me that the cancer is not only already back in my liver just 7 weeks after resection, but that it's spread to my lungs as well. For the first time, cancer started fighting back. The chemo wasn't a precaution anymore, it along with a complete liver transplant and resection of the nodules in my lungs is my only chance at survival.
Chemotherapy, for lack of a better word, sucks. It's harder than I could have ever imagined. The treatment started with a cycle of once a week for 3 weeks, followed by one week of rest. Every week I was bombarded with fatigue, weakness, headaches, and worst of all nausea. I had plenty of medicine for it, but it never fully went away. I felt like I couldn't eat anything, but it only got worse when my stomach was empty, so I forced myself to eat. The days of and following my treatments are excruciating, but those that are manageable I do everything to make the most of. I host shooting days in my backyard, invite family and friends to dinners, and play lots of Magic: The Gathering.
After the first 3 months of treatments the cycles ease up a bit, to one treatment every 3 weeks, but now there are some new side effects, the worst of which is numbness in my hands and feet. The chemo is working according to my scans, and eventually it's time to get back under the knife to take care of my lungs. The liver transplant team won't operate on me until my lungs have been clear of disease for 6 months. The thought of another 2 surgeries is daunting, but I know it must be done, so I grit my teeth and push onward.
The lung surgery was less invasive than the liver one, but chest tubes are awful. It hurt to breathe, and my ribs are still recovering from the tubes rubbing against them. I get out of the hospital in 3 days, just in time for the 4th of July. Once again, during my recovery I get a phone call, only this time it's from Dr. Woodring. I brace myself for more bad news, but as she tells me the pathology report following my lung surgery shows no signs of cancer, I race downstairs to my mom and have Dr. Woodring repeat the whole thing. Finally, something is going right. Now there's potential to do the liver transplant sooner than expected.
Currently I'm waiting for the transplant team to review my case again and get back to me. My future is still very uncertain, and I don't know if I can ever go back to the life I came from, but I'm of the opinion that the only way to get stronger is to do stuff that sucks. This battle is just another opportunity for me to overcome a challenge, grow, learn, persevere, and get stronger. I've never gone down without a fight, and nothing has ever kept me down for long. I don't intend to change that anytime soon. I'm making cancer my bitch, and I can't thank my friends, family, and girlfriend enough for being there to support me through it.

What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I have been playing Magic for almost 15 years. It's always been a great way for me to blow off steam and hang out with my friends and share some hilarious moments. Throughout this journey, magic has been my main respite from the chemo and has tremendously helped my mental stability. The guys I have met through it are incredibly supportive and make me forget I have cancer at times when we're gaming. My favorite youtube channel, The Command Zone has a gameplay series where they invite different guests onto the show to play on camera to publish the games. It would be super fun just to hang out with that team, get to know everyone and play magic with people who share my love and passion for the game, but my wish is to play magic on Game Knights with Jimmy Wong, Josh Lee Kwai, and my favorite streamer Kenji Egashira.

Wish Owner: The Anna Miller Foundation

Fighting Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma

Wish: Video game
My life was great before I got diagnosed. We weren't the wealthiest but we lived comfortably and that was enough for us. I was looking forward to getting out of high school so I could continue in the construction trades since I had been in construction for about 3 years now and I took a construction class. It was just me and my mom living together. By junior year my sister moved out so I was the only one helping my mom out. Things were starting to look up - I had just got hired at Home Depot I had gotten my OSHA and heavy machinery cards. I had also been working on fixing my truck for a while now - everything was finally starting to work out. Until I started feeling the symptoms one day but by then it was too late. I was unaware of what was happening in my body and now I can barely walk and have drains because of how problematic it has been to treat this cancer - it has been a very hard and life-changing experience. Sometimes it really does feel like I've lost it all.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme Liquid Cooled Gaming Desktop - 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF - GeForce RTX 4080 Super, 16GB

I always wanted a gaming PC but could never afford one because I was always helping my mom out with rent and buying groceries. Now that I have been diagnosed with this aggressive cancer all I ask is for something to take my mind off the current situation I am currently living. I would be very grateful if my wish was to be granted. I have always been shy about asking for things so I am very grateful for everything.

Fighting Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Wish: Hawaii
I am Lexi, and I am a freshman at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. My major is education, and I want to be a middle school math teacher. My passion is hanging out with and mentoring Christian teen girls.

While at school, my favorite activities to do were camping out on the school field to get the best seats for GCU basketball games. I love country swing dancing, and I was a part of a country swing dancing club called American Kids. I also enjoyed attending worship nights and bible studies with my friends on campus.

I was very active before my diagnosis. I loved to go hiking and cliff jumping. I also have the bug for travel and was signed up this summer to be a part of a mission trip to serve in Spain teaching English to kids and telling them about Jesus. Additionally, I volunteered at a local soup kitchen called St. Vincent's as well as participated in a program called Canyon Kids where I mentored local low-income kids. As you can see I am very social and love being around people and making friends.

I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma when I came home for Christmas break. I thought I was sick and went to urgent care where they prescribed me antibiotics for a sinus infection. However, I didn't get better, I got worse. My lymph nodes in my neck and armpits started to swell and my face was swollen twice its size. I also had shortness of breath. The doctors kept saying I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics but after three weeks of worsening symptoms, they finally did a chest x-ray and found a tumor pressing on the main artery to my heart. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and after many biopsies and CT scans, I was diagnosed.

Since my diagnosis, my life has been put on hold. I am unable to go back to school as I needed to start chemo immediately. Every 3 weeks I go to the hospital to receive chemo for 5 days. Then I have 2 weeks to recover my counts. My treatment will consist of 6-8 chemo sessions. I am now immunosuppressant so I am not allowed to be in large crowds of people. I can have a few friends come to my house to see me as long as they wear a mask and we social distance ourselves. Since my chemo treatment, my hair has fallen out and I am very weak. I don't have the energy that a normal 18-year-old has. I spend my days sleeping a lot and going to clinic appointments. It has been hard to stay positive as sometimes I feel like I am stuck in this cancer prison.

My family has been my rock! My mom took a leave of absence from her job to care for me and transport me back and forth for my appointments. She even sleeps on an air mattress on the floor while I am in the hospital during treatment. My dad and younger brothers provide me with comic relief, especially about my bald head. My strong faith in God is getting me through this difficult diagnosis. My church family and community have been amazing at surrounding me with love, support, dinners, cookies, and anything I need.

Even though my life is not what I want it to be right now I am trying to remember that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Through this process I am learning that you don't know how strong you are until you have no other choice than to be strong.
What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
My wish is for my family and I to go on a trip to Maui. I want my family to go on this trip with me because they are walking this cancer journey with me. My brothers have had to sacrifice sports and activities because my parents were busy in the hospital with me. My mom has had to take a leave of absence from her job and my parents have been my biggest support. This trip would give us all something to look forward to once my treatment is over.

Wish Owner: Midland States Bank

Fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Wish: Miami
Shir is a 24yr female who was working in a law office in admin and dating her boyfriend prior to her diagnosis. Since her diagnosis, she has lost her job and has had many life changes. She has had to have a Bone Marrow Transplant and is now very dependent on family - which is contrast to her previous independence.

What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
Vacation with her boyfriend to help her heal mentally. She is experiencing a mental exhaustion from her treatment and transplant.
hinking about and why?
I live and die for the starwars and Disney is my childhood and Ivd always wanted to go to Disney land and go see galaxy edge I want to make my own r2d2 and lightsaber and take a picture with all my favorite characters it's been my dream and because of cancer I haven't been able to anything

Fighting Brain tumor

Wish: Disney - Star Wars
At the age of 16 I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since that day all I saw was darkness. My cancer has come back multiple time. I am disabled I have alot of problems like loss balance double vision PTSD and WHITECOAT syndrome . I been through 30 surgeries done chemotherapy back to back and radiation treatment. Through all that I still kept my head up had alot of faith in God because I am a mighty warrior of God. Always and will be positive no matter how bad things got cancer won't break me I fight for all my brothers fighting cancer

What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
I live and die for the starwars and Disney is my childhood and Ivd always wanted to go to Disney land and go see galaxy edge I want to make my own r2d2 and lightsaber and take a picture with all my favorite characters it's been my dream and because of cancer I haven't been able to anything

Fighting Synovial Sarcoma

Wish: New York
Before I went out with my friends and my brother to play soccer and basketball, my brother and l used to exercise together, also at night we went out as a family to dinner restaurants, every weekend we went to the park, now I still do a few things like go to the park, go to eat at restaurants and watch movies together, from time to time we play board games as a family and so on currently.

What Nik's wish are you thinking about and why?
One of my dreams is to go to New York, because I like it a lot, another is to meet Stephen Curry or go see the Golden State Warriors in a game because Curry is my idol to follow since I started playing basketball and the warriors are my fav team and my last dream is to be a streamer like my idols on Twitch, Youtube, which in that case I would have to buy several things to put together a whole setup to stream like them.
Wish Owner: Hyde Out Bar & Gril and J&J Gaming

fighting Lymphoma

Sam, age 20 from CT, was a healthy young man when he was suddenly diagnosed with cancer in January of 2021. He had a very scary & difficulty first round of chemo where he was in the intensive care unit. He's been adjusting to the new diagnosis but it's been extra challenging due to covid.

fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia

WISH: Rainforest
Before my diagnosis, I was super active playing volleyball and I was in college getting my bachelors in psychology. I was diagnosed my junior year, a week before my 21st birthday. I received treatment, graduated, and relapsed last year. Since then I've been on a maintenance treatment and I'm working to gain my strength back after all my treatments caused some muscle loss. Meanwhile, I'm keeping myself busy by doing hobbies such as crocheting and painting.!