7/4/02 Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!

Hope this update finds you all well and happy -
and you all have a terrific time celebrating today,
America's Birthday!! Nick is excitied about
celebrating - he has sparklers and other noisy
things and we will be going to the fireworks tonite.
This afternoon, my "Two Men" are taking me to see
"Men IN Black". And we'll be cooking out,
splashing around in Nick's pool, and playing
basketball with dad.

As for Nicks treatments - he made it through the
7th round with little problem and now we are very
anxiously awaiting the start of this next round for
it is the LAST ONE!!! It has been postponed now two
weeks already, and it will probably be another 2
weeks of postponements before we can begin. The
problem is, Nicks bone marrow is soooo tired, it is
having a very hard time recovering enough to make
all the platelets (100.000) required to start this
LAST round. This week, we only had a count of 67,000
which was only up 3,000 from last week............
So disapointing when Nick is so looking forward to
being DONE with all of this chemo! Three weeks of
treatments and then ---- NO MORE!! We are going to
celebrate the last treatment with a trip to Michigans
Adventure, and Chuckie Cheese's ! We're just not sure
when that last treatment will be...!

Nick is back in therapy for the summer, and working
hard! They are working on his memory, following
multiple directions, socializing, his strength, and
balance. His therapists are very pleased with the
progress he is making so far. And Nick and I are
working on the school work he missed so he'll be up
to speed for the 2rd grade.

I dont have those pics I promised of Nicks new
chinchilla Taz, my computer has been on the blink
FOREVER!! But, thanks to our friend Mike (the knight
in shining armor who has rescued my computer at
last!) I will have them definately for the next
update! But know that Nick is having a great time
with Taz ! And Nick's parakeet Merlin, has decided
to adopt Taz! She takes every oportunity to get
into the cage with him now! Quite a site to see!
( I promise you'll get to see soon!)

Well, that is all for now, I kept my promise and got
this update done before another month went by. I
will try this time to have another out in about 2
weeks. In the meantime, thank you all so much for
your continued support in prayer. And thank you to
for the continued support through email, notes in
Nicks guestbook, and cards & letters through the
mail. Nick, his family and I, cannot thank you all
enough for all you do - but we do thank God every day
for bringing you into our lives!

Take care, God Bless, and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!
~Pam,Bob,& Nick



7/16/02

YEAH!!!! Nick has finally started his LAST chemo
round! Last week Tuesday, he was admitted overnite
and all went Wonderfully!

Today, we are at clinic for an outpatient dose
and next Tuesday - July 23, 2002 we will go back
again for the LAST ONE!!!!! WOW!!!!! Nick is SO
happy !!! Nick will continue to visit the clinic
weekly until his blood counts are back up to normal,
and then, he only goes in once every 3 months for
scans!!!!! After 2 yrs, it's every 6 months for 2
years. And the following yr,. only once, and then he
will be considered not just in remission, but
CURED!! (Yep, we are singing praises!!!!!)

We plan to have a very special day next tuesday,
full of suprises for Nick to celebrate the last
dose! Bob will take the day off from work to go
with us to the clinic, and then after, we will
really have some fun!!!! We'll go out to dinner
(probably Chuckie Cheese) and of course probably
play some lazer tag. And I am planning on a BIG
brownie cake and a special suprise gift to be
waiting at home for Nick. Something he's wanted
for a Long time - (no, not another pet, although
that is an idea.......) - ---- a big trampoline!!
His friend Kyle has one and Nick really wants one
too, but I told him they were just too expensive...
wont' he be suprised!!!!!!

Thank you all so much for being here with us
through all this treatment. Your support has been
invaluable and we can't thank you enough! Your
prayers have meant so much, as well as all the
encouragement you give! I will update again next
week with some great pics of the "last dose day"
- untill then - take care and God Bless
~Pam,Bob, & Nick