Five Years Later: No IVs, Just GPAs

May 20, 2025 marked Nick’s 5th ReBirthday. We wanted to share one final update for all of you who walked this road with us, cheered us on, and sent love from near and far.

Spoiler: It’s all amazing news!

From a medical perspective, Nick is nothing short of a miracle. He remains in full remission, with only minor side effects from his bone marrow transplant. Meeting him today, you’d never guess what he endured. His beloved Dr. Gold has since retired, but we still enjoy seeing him each year at the Reelin’ for Research fundraiser. Best of all—Nick’s check-ups are now down to just once a year.

Life!

At 19, Nick is thriving. This morning he headed back to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo to begin his sophomore year as a computer engineering major. He did wonderfully in his first year and loves being back in California.

In August we marked Nick’s 5th ReBirthday with a two-week adventure in Bariloche, Argentina—thanks to the generosity of Make-A-Wish. The plan had been to ski Argentina’s best mountain, but in a rare twist for that time of year, there was no snow! We managed a few beginner runs just to say we did, then pivoted to “Plan B”: hiking, tram rides up mountain peaks, and soaking in jaw-dropping views. Bariloche felt like Lake Tahoe—only with seven lakes instead of one.

Food was another part of Nick’s wish, and Argentina delivered. Steak, trout, Malbec, and chocolate became our daily staples. Nick even cooked us dinner one night over a wood-fired grill at our Airbnb. Between food trucks, yerba mate, and local artisan shops, we soaked in every moment. (Sam officially won the “best Spanish vocabulary” award for the trip!)

Once again, thank you all for the love and encouragement you’ve shown over the years. Your prayers, words, and support carried us during the hardest days and helped us celebrate the best ones.

Watching Nick step fully into adulthood fills us with tears of joy—grateful that he is here, healthy, and ready to embrace all life has to offer.

Cheers to Nick!