Nick Sloan's Baby Girl College Fund
Donation protected
All,
I'm sure by now that most of you have heard the tragic news regarding Nick Sloan's passing this past Sunday, February 11th. A link to the news story is HERE.
When I first heard the news of Nick's death it hit me really hard. Not just because of the random dumb luck that resulted in Nick being in the wrong place at the wrong time while going about his everyday business; rather it was a flood of memories that reminded me what an amazing man, friend, father, and soul that Nick was.
I will tell one quick story about the day I first met Nick. We were in Detroit, MI sometime circa 2009. He was working for Tryson as a contractor for GetWellNetwork helping with the St. Joseph's Mercy Oakland install and go-live. We immediately hit it off as pals. One night over the course of the 3 weeks I was there we were out to dinner when he received a call from a gal letting him know she was pregnant with their child. I will never forget Nick's face as he hung up the phone and told me the news. The smile across his face said it all. The remainder of our time in Detroit was spent with him talking about his upcoming role as father. He admittedly said he didn't have much experience or even a clue in where to begin... but that didn't matter. He fully embraced the new role as scary and overwhelming as it must have felt.
I had the pleasure of continuing to work with Nick again years later. He had just finished serving his country in a combat role over in Afghanistan and was hired by GetWellNetwork as a tech field engineer. We would see each other a handful of times a year at various client sites and company wide events. Every time I saw Nick he would pull out pictures of his "baby girl" and glow with pride as he showed her off. She was his world! We would always laugh about that night in Detroit and the fact that I was the first one he ever told he was going to be a Dad.
I can't really explain why, but when I heard the terrible news I felt compelled to do something to honor Nick and to help his "baby girl" who has lost her father way too young. To that end, and with the help of a few others, I have created a Go Fund Me page to help raise money to put towards a college fund for his daughter. Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of Go Fund Me pages and rarely do I participate in them, but this feels different. I felt compelled. If you do as well then feel free to participate.
In trying to make sense out of this senseless tragedy and I am struggling. But one of life's truisms keeps bubbling to the top... and it's this: Life is precious, tomorrow is not promised for any of us; so cherish the times you have with those that you love. And never miss a chance to tell them you love them and just how much they mean to you.
With love,
Ryan M. Niethamer
(w/ Keith Fischer)
I'm sure by now that most of you have heard the tragic news regarding Nick Sloan's passing this past Sunday, February 11th. A link to the news story is HERE.
When I first heard the news of Nick's death it hit me really hard. Not just because of the random dumb luck that resulted in Nick being in the wrong place at the wrong time while going about his everyday business; rather it was a flood of memories that reminded me what an amazing man, friend, father, and soul that Nick was.
I will tell one quick story about the day I first met Nick. We were in Detroit, MI sometime circa 2009. He was working for Tryson as a contractor for GetWellNetwork helping with the St. Joseph's Mercy Oakland install and go-live. We immediately hit it off as pals. One night over the course of the 3 weeks I was there we were out to dinner when he received a call from a gal letting him know she was pregnant with their child. I will never forget Nick's face as he hung up the phone and told me the news. The smile across his face said it all. The remainder of our time in Detroit was spent with him talking about his upcoming role as father. He admittedly said he didn't have much experience or even a clue in where to begin... but that didn't matter. He fully embraced the new role as scary and overwhelming as it must have felt.
I had the pleasure of continuing to work with Nick again years later. He had just finished serving his country in a combat role over in Afghanistan and was hired by GetWellNetwork as a tech field engineer. We would see each other a handful of times a year at various client sites and company wide events. Every time I saw Nick he would pull out pictures of his "baby girl" and glow with pride as he showed her off. She was his world! We would always laugh about that night in Detroit and the fact that I was the first one he ever told he was going to be a Dad.
I can't really explain why, but when I heard the terrible news I felt compelled to do something to honor Nick and to help his "baby girl" who has lost her father way too young. To that end, and with the help of a few others, I have created a Go Fund Me page to help raise money to put towards a college fund for his daughter. Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of Go Fund Me pages and rarely do I participate in them, but this feels different. I felt compelled. If you do as well then feel free to participate.
In trying to make sense out of this senseless tragedy and I am struggling. But one of life's truisms keeps bubbling to the top... and it's this: Life is precious, tomorrow is not promised for any of us; so cherish the times you have with those that you love. And never miss a chance to tell them you love them and just how much they mean to you.
With love,
Ryan M. Niethamer
(w/ Keith Fischer)
Organizer and beneficiary
Keith Fischer
Organizer
Arlington, VA
Kasey Trill
Beneficiary
