Nick

​Each one of us knows amazing people who have touched our lives and left a deposit in our souls. One such person in my life is my precious friend Maria. As a single mother she has profoundly sacrificed for and poured her life into her two boys raising them into incredible young men. ​ She has relentlessly advocated for them being the greatest coach and loudest cheerleader.  She has done an amazing job of being Mom and Dad.  But all the time she has held a secret, a pain close to her heart.

One of her amazing sons is Nick was born March 26, 2001.   ​At nine month's Nick had his first seizure. This is when everything changed. His Mom​ had to face a fear that almost every mother dreads - initial tests reveals  abnormal growths developing in her precious baby boy's face, also known as Neorofibromatosis (NF1). However, Nick's case was complicated yet again, as he was born with three different types of tumors in the same location.
 
The medical records that Maria shared with me was over 17 pages with visits to  40 different Doctors, countless hospitals, tests, logs of complex medical opinions; Doctor after Doctor looked at this case over the years, and were too afraid to touch it.  The prognosis was ambigious, undefined and not good; no medical or legal opinion could get Maria's insurance to cover the cost of such a complex and dangerous surgery that required to remove not one growth, but three different tumors;  let alone perform the maxillofacial reconstruction that would be required after the tumors were removed.  There was simply no way Maria could find the hundreds of thousands of dollars that would be required to fund it - despite her relentless efforts trying to do so. 
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​The only thing that would help Nick was a miracle. Their miracle came through in 2014 after yet another surgery was cancelled. Maria was watching Hoda Kopt on the Today Show, which happened to air the Little Baby Face Foundation. Maria thought to try one more time and quickly sent them history, photos and a final plea for help. Two months later Baby Face Foundation called and determined that Nick's case warranted their attention.  Their Mission is as follows: At the Little Baby Face Foundation, our mission is to transform the lives of children born with debilitating facial deformities through world-class reconstructive surgery.
 
And now ,the long awaited and incredibly calculated surgery is scheduled today:  May 16, 2018!!! Nick is receiving ​the gift of a lifetime - ​a rich blessing from Little Baby Face Foundation; World renoun surgeons are donating the surgery and ​not only that, but ​the Ronald McDonald House is donating a place for Maria to stay ​ while in New York City with her son for the surgery​
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This Go Fund Me page is set up for Maria's loss of income​ and non related medical expenses while she is with Nick in New York for the surgery and when they return to their home in Virginia. As a single mother of two, (Alec is Nick's younger brother) Maria runs her own business that depends on her to provide the administrative and concierge services her company has become well known for in the Washington DC region.  The loss of income is of great concern to her.  With your help, of any kind, Maria will be able to be with Nick during his recovery, without financial concern.  

Above all things, please join me in lifting ​this​ precious family up in prayer.  May God shower His blessings on Nick, Maria and Alec during this time, so they may come to know His love for them more and more!  And, may our heavenly Father bless all who are a part of this journey.  

As a side note...know that Maria is my dear friend that I met nearly 30 years ago.  Of course I have known of Nick's tumor since he was little; he and Emily Jo (my daughter) are only 4 months apart in age.  However, Maria has kept much of this information close to her heart until now.  She does an amazing job at seeing a a need and filling that need ON HER OWN.  The Go Fund Me page gives "tips"/ "advice" to those of us setting up a page.  One tip I have been given is to express to potential donors how urgent this financial situation is.  Well friends...Maria (aka "Cooksie") isn't known to ask for help; so I am asking you, on her behalf...please help, soon.  Help me, help my friend.  ​Help me thank her for for pouring her life into her two amazing boys. ​

She is making plans for the next surgery as this is one three surgeries that may be required. Todays surgery is to install 5 implants to rebuild the facial structure. There  are a lot of unknown financial burdens ahead.  What you can give will help lighten a heavy load for a highly motivated, self employed, single mom.  

Thank you, in advance, for your help!  

Godspeed~

Jo