A PORTRAIT OF NICK by Dr. Michael Harris

I first met Nicholas when he was four years old. He was referred by his pediatrician to the Tomorrows Children’s Institute (TCI) at Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. From the day I met Nick a very special bond was formed which strengthened through the years until the day he died of a second cancer, Ewings sarcoma. This bond remains today, never to be broken.

Much can be said of Nicholas’ determination, courage and intelligence. These were among his many outstanding characteristics. However, I wish to write about Nick and Me – patient and doctor. Nick was inquisitive, a raconteur, a poet, a lover of life, an athlete and compassionate. A routine physical exam, especially during the years when he was well, never was routine. Although Nick came to clinic for a checkup, I always believed he really came to check out the state of the TCI and its inhabitants. He would find out how I was feeling and what special events were looming on my horizon, any news from the other staff members, and finally he would manage to regale all of us with details of his life and general comments about people he was in contact with and the events of the day. All of this was done with his unique smile and humor that brought joy to all of us. I always looked forward to my “sessions with Nick.” On the day he was to fly to France for his first semester of college Nick was diagnosed with a new cancer, Ewings sarcoma. Now the “sessions with Nick” took on a new focus for all of us, yet Nick remained as before, interested in family, friends and medical staff. His comments about life were at times insightful and at other times humorous, but always left us with something to think about.

And now Nick is not here and I miss him and my “sessions with Nick.” The question we all ask is what would Nick tell us to do during a “session with Nick.” The answer is quite simple. He would instruct us to do exactly what Nancy and Ralph Currey and his myriad of friends are doing – help scientists understand the disease that robbed him of his life and once understood help doctors improve the cure rate for Ewings sarcoma patients. The NCF is dedicated to this effort and Nick, I can assure you, approves.