Reality

My visit with Nick today was a bit of a reality check for me. Before today, it was easy to play "let's pretend" in my mind that Nick wasn't really that sick and that it would all be smooth sailing. Don't get me wrong he is still doing great, and keeping his chin up, but today was the first day I saw him look sick. To tell you the truth it freaked me out.

Seeing my buddy finally start to really feel it was no less than heartbreaking. I can't imagine what Mark is going through. Just minutes before he started feeling the chemo, we were all laughing at the video of the Jam 4 Nick. I used some pretty creative filming techniques...you''ll see it soon. Before that, we were down in the recovery room with him as he woke up from his spinal tap. He flipped us the bird, made some off color jokes, flipped us the bird some more...regular 13 year old stuff. But then reality stepped in and made me realize where I was.

PCH is a place for kids who are sick. It's not somewhere they want to be, or dream of ending up one day. They are there to get better. To go on and lead long, happy lives and tell others of how things really aren't that bad, because they went through much worse as kids. The reality is some kids just don't get better, some never leave PCH. That is a tragedy I cannot fathom. Nick's floor is filled with happy smiles underneath tiny bald heads. Every single one of them is attached to an IV that is bringing them both life and misery. Still they smile. They find joy in being alive, where an adult would find despair. It's a horrible and magical place at the same time.

Nick, thank you for showing me what is truly important in this life. You have strength in you I have never seen in ANYONE before. You are fighting and winning kiddo. I want to scream to the world how proud I am of you.

I AM PROUD OF YOU NICK!!!

For all those who live in the Phoenix area, I encourage you take a visit to the hospital. Not that you need to visit Nick, you just need to see and feel it for yourself. Have lunch in the cafeteria. Walk the halls. Visit the giftshop. Make your next donation in-person. There is a very motivating energy there and I always leave renewed in my goal to kick the $&*^ out of this disease. Thanks again for joining me in this fight. I want that hospital to have a big VACANCY sign out front sometime before I kick off this planet.