Help Nick fight!

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to share some news about our dad, Nick, who was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare and challenging blood disease. This has come as a shock to our family, and we are still processing the overwhelming emotions that accompany such a diagnosis.

Nick is a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is an integral part of all of our lives. For those of you who know Nick, his kindness, generosity, and warm spirit have touched the hearts of many. His innate ability to liven a room and engage with friends and strangers alike is one of a kind. If you happen upon Nick at a social function, he will find a way to make you smile, always making everyone laugh with his quick wit and infectious sense of humor. He has a way of bringing joy to everyone he knows, and his energy lights up any room.

Despite this difficult road ahead for our family, we are hopeful and optimistic. Our dad is a fighter and has never been one to throw in the towel.

The key to Nick's recovery rests in finding a match for a stem-cell transplant. We are reaching out to you, our extended community, with a request that could make a world of difference. We encourage you to register with Be The Match, a registry that connects potential donors with those in need of life-saving transplants. Nick's odds increase, along with so many others waiting on a match, with every eligible donor that tests. For a donor, a simple blood donation can save a life.

https://my.bethematch.org/s/join?language=en_US

Our journey ahead is daunting, both emotionally and financially. Nick is receiving top-notch care from the wonderful doctors and staff at UCLA. We are grateful and fortunate to have such a dedicated medical team by our side. Unfortunately, the treatment and management of Nick's MDS come with significant costs and impact his ability to work. After much discussion, we decided to create this GoFundMe campaign to help support our parents through this challenging journey. Any contribution, no matter how big or small, will go a long way in easing the present financial burden on our family. Any support will help cover Nick's medical expenses, ancillary costs, lost wages, along with other unforeseen costs that may arise during this lengthy battle.

Your positive thoughts, prayers, and acts of kindness mean the world to us, and we are humbled by the support we have already received. We believe in the power of community and are hopeful that together we can make a difference in Nick's life and help him conquer the road that lies ahead.

Please join us in this fight by getting tested and sharing the word about Be The Match by reposting on social media, word of mouth, etc. Your involvement may not only help our dad but others battling MDS as well. Let's rally together and show Nick the strength of the love and support surrounding him.

Thank you for being a part of our lives, our Dad's life, and for all your love and support. We know Nick can fight this, and your support of him means the world.

This journey has only just begun, and we're encouraged by all the love and support we've received from family and friends. Please do not hesitate to contact Andy, Nicole or Sam if you desire to reach out. We are available for any questions and/or support. Our mom and dad are juggling a lot of emotions and responsibilities, and we would like to lighten their load in all ways possible. We will do our best to update the site with news on Nick's treatment for those who want to be kept in the loop. Nick will also be engaged and able to view any messages you leave here, so any and all are welcomed.

With humbled gratitude,

Andy, Nicole and Sam Prochnow

"We are intrepid. We carry on."

"Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."