OUR STORY Nick's back started hurting him in early February. This was not something new to us. Throughout our relationship Nick has had back pain come and go. The only difference this time was that he couldn't go get a massage due to the restrictions put in place due to COVID 19. Nick continued to work through the pain and started sleeping in a reclining chair because it was too painful for him to lay down and get up out of a bed. He started asking me for help to put his boots on in the morning and then his socks. He was in so much pain he couldn't bend down and it started to effect his ability to work. I was able to convince my strong willed husband that he needed to see a doctor. The first week in June Nick went to see an orthopedic surgeon who then sent him for an MRI of his back. On June 16th, our primary practitioner called us. I put her on speakerphone and she proceeded to tell us that Nick's scans showed signs of cancer. We were both taken back by this news. Nick is only 35! He only had a back ache...how does he have cancer?!? The days and weeks that followed are a blur. Lots of phone calls, doctor appointments, tests/scans, and multiple hospital visits. The doctors are not 100% sure the cause of the cancer so they are treating it as CUP (Cancer of an Unknow Primary) stage 4. They believe it is Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) but are not 100% sure. The cancer is in his liver, skull, shoulders, chest cavity, ribs, vertebrae, and hips. The tumors in his back have caused compression fractures on T3 and L5 vertebrae. They say that his cancer is aggressive and the average person would have 11 to 12 months to live. We can not and will not accept this as an answer so we have a 2nd opinion scheduled for the first week in September at Mayo Clinic. Between the compression fractures and the cancer, Nick is in a significant amount of pain. He has had to stop working and apply for Social Security Disability which can be a lengthy process. Thankfully I am a teacher so I am currently home to help Nick when needed.  The funds raised will go towards our trip to Minnesota for a second opinion and towards bills that have added up while we wait for Social Security Disability to kick in. Thank you in advance for your support. Love, The Brennan Family