Staff Sergeant Rockefeller - Veteran and Warrior

My name is Grant and I'm fundraising for Nick Rockefeller. Nick is married to my niece Catie. Born in 1985, Nick joined the Army at the age of 18. He became a mechanic and flight engineer on Chinook helicopters. He served two deployments to the Middle East. During that time, Nick was exposed to burn pits, chemicals, shipping containers and other potentially hazardous materials. In 2017 Nick was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He completed chemo, had surgery and then met Catie. He told Catie about his cancer on their first date. After being told that he was cancer free, it returned in 2019 and had metastasized to his heart, chest and kidney. His condition was further complicated by blood clots. He got very sick and had to be hospitalized numerous times. During that time, he was told by a doctor that the cancer was too advanced in his heart and that he would not live more than six months. Nick told the doctor that he was wrong. After months of intense inpatient chemotherapy, Nick began seeing Dr. Einhorn (doctor for Lance Armstrong) at Indiana University. He had several visits to Indiana for three surgeries including open heart, thoracic and a kidney removal. All cancer was removed and Nick went into remission. After 17 years of service, he was medically discharged from the Army. This past summer, Nick showed some elevated markers on some routine bloodwork. A scan showed that his cancer had returned and was surrounding his descending aorta. Nick and Catie went back to Indiana for another intense surgery involving his heart and spine. Hopeful this took care of everything, they were told a few months later that a CT scan showed the cancer had spread to his lungs. On December 4th, his first day of a new round of chemo, Nick had a anaphylactic response to the medication and was hospitalized. During his workup, doctors found blood clots in his lungs and he was started on treatment. On December 6th, Nick and Catie closed on their new home. That night, Nick was showing signs of a stroke. He was taken to the ED and was diagnosed with a severe brain bleed. Uncertain of how much damage was caused to Nick's brain, he underwent a craniotomy and a drain was placed to remove the pressure in his brain. He has been in ICU ever since. Since regaining consciousness, Nick is talking, eating and moving all of his extremities. He will probably spend the holidays in ICU while he recovers from the brain bleed. Then he will again need treatment for the blood clots and cancer. Nick has a long road ahead.

Occasionally, even the most cynical among us are inspired by someone that, against all odds, absolutely will not give up the fight. Whenever I would start a conversation with Nick about how amazingly strong he is, he would always change the subject. They should be making a movie about him but he thinks he is just a regular guy. Nick is an absolute warrior. Please give what you can to help with all of the residual financial costs associated with chronic illness, such as hospital bills, transportation, meals, pet boarding, lodging, etc.. Thank you.