Nick's Fight Against Stage 4 Cancer

Dear Family, Friends and Compassionate Strangers,

Hi, my name is Nicole, we are reaching out to ask for help for Nick Olari and his family.

Nick has been diagnosed with a very rare cancer, specifically Acute myeloid leukemia. In AML your bone marrow produces abnormal myeloid cells called myeloid blasts or myeloblasts. This cancer seems to be presenting in all of Nick’s bones and he has myeloblasts growing in his spinal column, as well as around his spinal cord. This is causing damage to the cord and paralysis.

The past 9 months have been a struggle with diagnostic testing, doctor appointments and endless trips to the ER seeking pain relief. Nick has had numbness from his chest down to his toes, limiting his mobility.

Nick has been living at U of M hospital since January 21st, prior to that he has been in and out of the ER with debilitating pain since June 2023. He has started the radiation treatment along with physical and occupational therapy to strengthen his muscles and to increase independence.

The financial burden has caught up with the family as Nick and Katie are not able to work full time. The second hardest part of having cancer is to ask others for financial help! We have set up this Go Fund Me to help Nick and Katie as they adjust. Nick is at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor getting chemotherapy, PT and OT. They hope to find more opportunities for treatment and information about this horrible cancer.

We will post pictures, videos and updates through this journey and we would like to thank you in advance for your generosity.

Some data from the Cleveland Clinic:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare cancer that affects your bone marrow and blood. It typically happens when certain genes or chromosomes mutate (change). AML usually affects people age 60 and older, but it can also affect younger adults and children. Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive cancer that can be life-threatening. Newer treatments are helping people to live longer with AML.

Acute myeloid leukemia affects about 4 in 100,000 adults annually.