Paul/Nick’s Story

Site created on November 1, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Please leave any comments on the "Well Wishes" section of Paul/Nick's website.
You can disregard the donation request below - we are not requesting any financial support for Nick or Caring Bridge. 

We are simply looking to create a encouraging place for friends and family to share - and we would greatly appreciate your kind words.

As most of you know, Paul was diagnosed with cancer in the liver, pancreas and some lymph nodes on Oct. 23 at UW Madison.  He was encouraged to start chemo that day which he did.  Despite the shock and urgency of the diagnosis, he has tolerated things well for the first round. His primary Dr. will be at UW, but he is able to receive chemo treatments in Rockford at the Regional Cancer Center. 

We have received so many calls and texts and feel like we are not answering everyone promptly, so we're hoping this site will help.  Thank you so much to all of you that are already helping us fight this.  Please feel free to leave any comments on this site.  

Newest Update

Journal entry by Paul Nickel

UPDATE FROM LUCY, the Nickel rescue pup 

Well, this is awkward!  

Unfortunately, I didn’t know it was MY turn to provide an update to the family’s Caring Bridge page. In my defense, while I do appear to be a cute pup, I am celebrating my 14th birthday this month. Sadly, I don’t hear the doorbell when it rings, and I’ve retired from chasing the football that Sue and Nick entertained me with for so many years. But I continue to watch over the two of them and that's a BIG job!  

Speaking of roommates…..Nick continues to amaze his medical team. In October, it will be 5 years since his cancer diagnosis (and 6 years since his stroke). He remains at Stage 4-non-progressive. Fortunately, the results from his quarterly scans continue to be “stable”, a word we strive for every 3 months. His primary oncologist said his success is a combination of the type of pancreatic tumors and his daily chemo drug. However, the three of us believe it’s your prayers and positive thoughts that have gotten us this far. Overall, Paul feels fine. He swims laps almost every day and has almost completed the 2023 annual 100 mile challenge at the YMCA to get his third t-shirt. Plus, he still walks me around the block each night before we all go to bed.  I insist on that!  

And my best buddy Sue is doing fine too “for her age” --(I hear her report that all her doctors say that phrase now). I follow her around constantly and she seems to love it. Her knee is still sore from her replacement. I can tell, because I see ice packs out. One plus for me – Sue seems to be more sensitive to all my aging pains and has called the vet for help with my aching body. That wounded knee is helping my life, that’s for sure.  

Sorry, I don’t have more details. In general -- they still leave the house a lot – so things must be going well. I DO know they are always mentioning people in their lives that they absolutely love and I’m sure you’re one of them. Sometimes, they cry after phone calls (oh, geez)  

Stay healthy everyone … they need you!  

Love,                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Lucille  

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