Battle against MALT Lymphoma

Hi im Nick Burkowski. My mother had wrote this for me .

When your child is born, you are relieved at seeing that beautiful face. You count the 10 little fingers and 10 little toes and when the doctor tells you that you have a perfect child, you can breathe, your child is perfect.

Over time, that relief fades away with each milestone your child has, learning to walk, playing a sport, learning to drive, you start to breathe, really breathe. You made it. Your child has made it unscathed.

You watch in awe as they grow into an adult and are proud with each accomplishment they have, first job, first love, marriage, children, the list goes on. You are happy for them. You have moved from care giver to friend and confidant. You can breathe…or so you thought.

The phone rings, “Mom, I have cancer”. Disbelief, terror, how can this happen. You listen as they tell you it will be fine, it’s just a little spot. You try and encourage them that it will be alright. You hang up wondering how and why, then how do I fix this for him.

On February 27, 2023, the doctor told my son that he had removed something that he saw when performing a routine deviated septum surgery. The lab tested it and said it was cancer! It is named MALT Lymphoma. A disease that usually appears in the gastro region and in older people. Nicks place of cancer is in the nasopharynx region with a wide margin. It affects his palatine and lingual tonsils. The doctor seemed positive and set him up with an appointment at Roswell a week later. Unfortunately, the doctor taking on the case was not one that we could work with, so after 3 unsuccessful appointments, Nick spoke up and said enough. He was then transferred to a different doctor. This time, she listened, she answered questions and gave hope. Step one, localized radiation. Because of his age, they only wanted to do two 15-minute treatments and then wait 90 days to be tested again to see the results.

Fast forward, September 5, 2023. Result day. The radiologist told us that the radiation did work. A bit, but not the results we were hoping for. He gave us the choice to try the same procedure again but didn’t feel it would work much better. The chief of lymphoma was the next stop. She was upbeat, but again reiterated that another dose of radiation probably would not give the results she was looking for. A few options were given, including the showstopper “Chemo”. Time to think, time to decide. September 15, the decision to try immunotherapy was made. IVs once a week for a month and once a month to restart the pill cycle . Three weeks of a pill, one week off to have the infusion for one year!

The journey was suppose to begin October 20th with a six-hour infusion treatment. One with unknown side effects, possible loss of work and never-ending trips to Roswell.

October 4. Just got word my first infusion will be this Friday instead of October 20th. Will let you know how it goes.

The fight continues.

This time we are not sure what the side effects the treatment will bring. Fingers crossed, it will be well tolerated, and the treatment will eradicate this evil from his system. In his corner are the many friends and family he has. His wife is researching healthy options to make sure nothing bad is ingested and to keep him strong and centered on the big picture. His daughter, his light, his laughter is always by his side bringing light and love to his life. He will fight for them, for us and for him!

Someone told us once that to be healthy it takes mind, body and spirit. Fortunately, Nick has a positive outlook and is determined to beat this evil beast but even with positivity there are down days.

To our family and friends, your support, encouragement, and prayers are needed at this time. An unexpected, cute text, word of encouragement can go a long way in making someone smile on an otherwise dreary day. As many of you may know, a battle against cancer is not only emotionally taxing but also a financial burden. Despite the emotional toll that comes with this diagnosis, the mounting medical bills, treatments, and the need for specialized care place a tremendous strain on our family's finances. This is why we have decided to launch a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs associated with Nick’s treatment, medical expenses, possibly rehabilitation and day care for his little one on days he doesn’t have the strength. We understand that times are tough for everyone, and we wouldn't ask for your help if it weren’t necessary. Any contribution, big or small, will make a significant difference in our ability to provide him with the best care possible.

This journey will be a long one.

Please help in this journey even with a prayer or good thought. Hopefully someone upstairs will hear one of us.