Nick's Odyssey- Healing His Home and His Body
Nicholas Deveau is a 16 year old grade 11 student at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School who has been diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). He is loved by his mother and bonus dad Chantal and Gino Thibeault, and his father Joey Thibeau. His siblings Joseph and Mia attend Ecole Belleville. Chantal is manager at Paper Chase Bottle Exchange Ltd. on the Hardscratch Road. Paper Chase was recently recognized by the Tri-County Extra (Nov 2018) for their exemplary efforts to raise funds for charities in our area (https://www.facebook.com/YarmouthBottleDepot/photos/rpp.152406738216847/875065655950948/?type=3&theater). Now it's our turn to show their family how much we care :)
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that affects how nerve cells form and grow. It causes tumors to grow on nerves. NF can produce tumors of the skin, internal organs, and nerves that sometimes become cancerous. It also can affect bones, causing severe pain, may result in learning disabilities, behavioral dysfunction, poor balance, and hearing and vision loss. There is no cure for NF.
On December 7th, Nick underwent his third surgery in 2 years, this one to remove a tumor that was compressing his spinal cord and causing pain and weakness in his limbs. The surgery was more complicated than the doctors predicted. After a 14 hour long surgery, Nick was left paralyzed on his right side, and has generalized weakness in his whole body. The past month of rehabilitation at the IWK have brought gradual improvements to his physical abilities.
Although we are all anxious to get Nick back home, his home is in need of extensive renovations to accommodate his new needs before he can be discharged from the hospital. A wheelchair ramp on the front entry is needed, all doorways and hallways have to be widened, and the bathroom needs to be renovated to create a wheel-in shower. A variety of equipment will be needed to help optimize his independence and mobility.
Despite trusting that Nick is in the best hands possible and getting the greatest care we could hope for, the hospital is over 3 hours away from home, and his siblings. His parents have sacrificed a considerable amount of time from their jobs, and traveling has become a considerable expense for his family. This page has been created to help Nick's family by relieving some of these unexpected financial burdens and help them focus on Nick's road to recovery, which still looms ahead.
We thank everyone for their support, thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.