Nicolas Paredes terminal cancer

This was January 1st 2018 at midnight 
This is July 22, 2018


My father-in-law,  Nicolas Paredes, was diagnosed with stage 4 Gastric Cancer. Cancer of the stomach.  He is currently in Home Hospice, living his last remaining days with the people that love him. We are asking for help for medical expenses, funeral, cremation, and any money left will go to his wife, who for medical reasons can’t work. 

Before being diagnosed he was strong. Ate very healthy. Was a little chunky. and worked hard, at times he had two jobs to support his family. He got his family through hard times. Living five people  in one rented room to making payments on his home over the course of 30 years. In 2015 was born my son, Thaddeus. That’s him in the pictures with Nicolas, because where Papa Niko was, Thaddeus was not far behind. His first grand child. 
They have a great relationship. He was his little buddy. Everywhere he went, Thaddeus went. Nicolas worked nights, so he would spend the day with my son. Honestly, Thaddeus preferred being with Nicolas than with his own parents. My son loves him, and you can tell how much he loves my son.  He taught him how to use his first scooter. His first bike. To comb. Potty train. He was there for all the major firsts. Hes been a great grand father, the best I could have ever hoped my son could have. 

Unfortunately, Nicolas started getting sick. Stomach pain. Nausea. Vomiting. He continued to work. Didn’t want to worry his family. For months and months he suffered not wanting to worry his family.  The few doctors he saw told him he had bad heartburn. 

But we knew something was happening. He went from eating a meal to not being able to eat more than a bite of food. Lost so much weight.

In March 2018 after suffering for months, it got to the point wherehe did not eat for several days. He was in great pain.  That’s when my wife, his daughter, Martha,  forced him To go to the emergency room.  There he was diagnosed with a tumor. Eventually identified as stage 4 Cancer. 

He went to the doctors and was put into chemotherapy. The doctor was hopeful and filled our hearts with hope. He went through chemotherapy and was getting stronger. He had started eating. Gaining weight. The tumor had shrunk.  He had become so strong that he was able to not only attend my sons third birthday. He helped set up, cook, serve and clean up. 
Then he finished his last chemo treatment in The beginning of July. 

We aren’t sure what happened exactly, but he got very sick. Stopped being able to eat. Started not being able to keep even water down. The doctors told us it was a virus. That as soon as he beat the virus. He’d start eating again. He lost all the weight he had gained and then some. The doctor after some pressure decided to put in a feeding tube. It was scheduled for 7/16/18.

On 7/15/18, he fainted, while standing in the kitchen splashing water on his face. I carried him to his bed and called the paramedics.  He was taken to the hospital. Over the course of the next week. They tried to put several types of feeding tubes. But, none would help. He’d return everything he ate. 

On 7/20, we were told the devastating news that the cancer had spread. We were told the cancer had cut off blood supply to his intestines. The flesh had died. And now he had holes in them. He was too weak for any surgery and it wouldn’t help. They told us, there was nothing more to be done. 

On 07/21, he was brought home to live the last remaining days with the people he loves. He can’t eat. He drinks water and it comes up within minutes. He went from a strong man, to nothing but skin and bones. It hurts when I see my arm is as thick as his thigh. To see him shake even lifting to grab water. 

He is a strong man. A man who has earned all my respect. He worked hard for his family. Never called out sick. Always helped everyone. Even when they had taken advatange of him. That was the type of man he was. He’d turn the other cheek. I can only ever hope to be as good a man as him.  I’ve never met or even heard of a single person talk negatively or dislike this man. 

To this day, he tells people his sick, but is fighting the good fight. 

We don’t know how much time he has left. But not being able to eat, means it is happening soon.
We hope for a miracle.  We pray for one. For God is great. 

He leaves behind his wife. Three children and two grandchildren. 

Im not sure, how to explain this to my son. He keeps saying when his Papa Niko gets better he’ll take him to the park. To the swings. For a walk. It breaks all our hearts. 

My daughter is 9 months old and won’t have memories of this great man that helped everyone. 

His children are here with him. Helping. Spending time with him. Making the last days off the best possible, but they’re all heartbroken.

If you know us, you know how good a man, Nicolas Paredes is. You know his worth and how unfair it is to lose him so quickly and so young. 

Any help is appreciated. We are grateful for any prayers in his name.