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Nic Downing Family

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Let us tell you part of the story of Nic Downing and his family.

Nic is a loving father of 3 wonderful children, Alex 15 yrs. old, Alyssa 11 yrs. old and Ayden 10 yrs. old, and a loving husband to the hands down absolute strongest woman we have ever had the pleasure of knowing. This wonderful family have had to witness the true cruelty of what cancer can do to a person first hand. Nic has always been a provider for his family up until the point in his battle with brain cancer that is was impossible to do so and here is the story of the rollercoaster ride that is their battle.

Nic’s glioblastoma was diagnosed on November 6th of 2014. What is glioblastoma ? Grade IV: Glioblastomas (also called glioblastoma multiforme, GBM, or grade IV astrocytoma). Anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas are malignant astrocytomas that grow and spread aggressively, accounting for more than 50 percent of all astrocytomas.

After the diagnosis by the doctors in Springfield placed Nic on chemotherapy and radiation both of which took a major toll on Nics body as one can imagine but hopes still remain high that cancer was going to be the victim not Nic. During this time the medical staff informed Nic and his family that surgery would not be an option due to how deeply imbedded the tumor was in both hemispheres of his brain.

In March of 2015 Nic and his family were moved from Rolla to Ash Grove to be closer to the family and friends that were all too eager to help them fight the battle against glitch, this is the name Nic chose for his tumor don’t ask me why it’s a Nic thing lol, and all the other needs a family of 5 might need.

During the month of July of 2015 there was even more hope than ever before. Nics radiation doctor had referred him to a doctor in St Louis that specialized in hard to extract brain tumors and he had accepted the referral. The following month of August the surgery was performed and 75% of glitch was removed!!!! This was great news. Nic immediately started yet another round of chemotherapy after the surgery was performed. Like with most rollercoasrter rides with every peak comes a valley and the valley on this track would be the day that Nic and Shawna were informed that glitch had come back with a more aggressive growth rate than ever before. Not good.

It was determined that Nic could possibly be a candidate for a treatment called Optune. For some reason this treatment would require many battles vis the telephone by Shawna with the powers that be that were saying no but not on her watch. I double dog dare you to deny someone Shawna Downing loves anything hell I triple dog dare you. Long story short Nic got Optune in October of 2015 with high hopes of this alternative type of treatment would work but was removed from the Optune treatment in January of 2016 only to be placed on yet another round of chemotherapy in February for another 8 weeks.

Nic and his family meet with the medical staff and it was determined to cease all treatment in May of 2016. During this battle with brain cancer he has been placed on steroids which has cause him to develop diabetes yet another disease to complicate things. The tumor had grown to such a size that his brain has shifted 6 centimeters to the left. That’s a long way for a brain to move. Can you imagine the pressure?

During the month of June 2016 despite all the treatments and physical therapy Nic has stopped all walking and talking. Which was a major blow to everyone. On July 27 2016 the papers were signed to place Nic on hospice.

Now this is the part that we as a group of family and friends ask you to help us help out one of the most giving and selfless families out there on this ball of dirt and water. Nic graduated from MSU in 2008 and became a chemist for Brewer Science in their research and development department in Rolla. Nic has had a major role in developing medications that have help people all over this world and he and his family could use a little help this time around. Nics wife Shawna has been outstanding in every way, shape, and form. Shawna has quit her jobs, that’s right I said jobs plural, to stay at home to care for Nic from his baths to his physical therapy. Shawna has been employed in the medical field as a CNA, med tech and restorative aid which have given her the skill set that has resulted in Nic receiving the best care he can possibly get. She has also had to drop out of the Occupational Therapy classes she was taking to help her and Nic give their children and even better future. This family is no stranger to hard work and being a helpful hand. We as their family and friends would ask that you please pray for them, send positive thoughts their way and/or donate to the GoFundMe account we have set up in their behalf. May God bless you and this family. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $100
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

RobertChristina Compton
Organizer
Ash Grove, MO
Shawna Downing
Beneficiary

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