Stand Strong for Nick

Hi my name is Connie Caruso and I am fundraising for my nephew Nicolas Burgio who has been battling cancer since the age of three, he is now 8 years old.

Nicolas was diagnosed with Stage 4 High-Risk Neuroblastoma Cancer on August 12, 2017, two weeks after his third birthday. Since the diagnosis, Nick has had 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 8 surgical operations in total (one 9.5 hours long to remove a massive tumor), stem cell transplants, monthly radiation treatments, and in-patient immunotherapy treatments (with violent reactions). He has spent three years on a feeding tube, requiring additional surgery to close the site, only to have a new port installed months later. He had to learn to walk again. Nicolas remains in treatment and has spent most of his childhood fighting cancer.

Nicolas is the kindest, sweetest little boy. He is deeply caring of others, with a heart full of gratitude, putting others' needs ahead of his own, even at this very young age he wants to "fix all of the kids he has met who have cancer". He tries hard not to complain and sports a smile even though his body is in tremendous discomfort most of the time. He is a treasure, unique in the most beautiful way imaginable. He dreams of being a "cancer researcher so no other kids will get cancer". He is well-liked by his school friends, and his friend Collin who he met in treatment. He loves dinosaurs, lions, tigers and all of the big cats!

The funds raised will be used to pay for outstanding medical expenses, supplement mom's loss of income as Nicks's primary caretaker, and cover costs associated with travel to NY, Boston and other treatment locations as they arise.

Nicolas's parents are physically, emotionally and financially drained. Mom has had to leave her job to care for Nick, and his prognosis makes the next steps in treatment unclear. He will either remain in treatment at Sloan Kettering (MSK Kids) in New York City for the next three years, or alternately be in Boston Children’s Hospital. Nicolas has two brothers Robert 27, and Domenic 23.