Cancer Survivor Dives In To Support Fellow Victims
Published: October 1, 2005
Nicholas Marriam may be 12, but he has the character of an adult — character he developed through experiences no child should ever have to face.
When he was 6, Nicholas was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma and had to spend two years in Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., undergoing intense chemotherapy treatments.
“He just kept complaining of a stomachache all the time, and all the sudden, it went from a stomachache to having cancer,” Fred Marriam said of his son’s illness. “He really is the one who got us through (that). His strength is really incredible.”
Nicholas missed months of school and endured long, lonely stays at the hospital. That’s when he realized he could do something for other sick children after he finished his treatments.
He and his cousin in Maryland, Shelby McKnew, write letters and call people, telling them of his cancer survival story to obtain donations for gift bags to give to children fighting cancer and other illnesses. They call the project Make A Difference Day, and Nicholas also uses money he earns from cutting grass and dog sitting to buy items that aren’t donated for the gift bags.
Angel Marriam said her son’s project delivers more than toys to children — it also brings hope to families dealing with childhood cancer.
“He offers hope that this healthy, strong and amazingly caring kid is what these scared parents could be bringing home after all of the devastating trauma,” Angel Marriam wrote in an e-mail to NBC-17 to nominate her son for Triangle Wishes.
“I watch him work all hot summer and tell him it’s OK if his visits don’t happen one time, and he responds, ‘If I don’t do this for the kids, who will?’ I know it gives him purpose and an answer to why he went through what he did. He tells others, ‘I know firsthand how these kids feel,’” she wrote.
Nicholas also recently took some of the cache of toys to a donation center for Hurricane Katrina evacuees to spread his message of hope even further.
“I saw on the news the horrible pictures of all the people being rescued from the floods, and I just felt so sad, I had to do something,” he said.
Despite his healthy attitude, he still has issues with his physical health. He has been in remission for four years, but the cancer treatments caused tremendous stress to his heart.
His doctors have recommended that he swim regularly to strengthen his heart, so NBC-17 contacted Capital Pools and Spa and A-1 Pools to donate and build an above-ground pool behind the Marriams’ house in Clayton and grant the parents’ wish for Nicholas.
While the family was on vacation Shayne Parrish of A-1 Pools and a crew installed the pool.
“He’s going to be very excited, just like any other child. You know how children are when they have a swimming pool,” Parrish said.
The Wilson’s Mills Fire Department filled the pool just before the Marriams arrived home from their trip.
When Nicholas saw the new swimming pool, he let out a yelp and sprinted in the back yard.
Ben Lithicum, of Capital Pools and Spa, said he knew Nicholas’ reaction would be special.
“Although he had troubles of his own, he was really out to help other people, and we wanted to help him,” Lithicum said. He then told Nicholas, “I loved your response a moment ago when you saw your pool, and it was all worth it.”
Wilson’s Mills Fire Chief Ricky Barbour jumped at the chance to fill the new pool up.
“You said you do good things for your community. Well, that’s what we do too,” Barbour told Nicholas. “We didn’t mind a bit coming to fill it up for you, and I hope you really, really enjoy it.”
Nicholas then slipped into his swim trunks and tried out the pool for the first time.
“Come on, let’s go swimming,” he yelled to friends and neighbors before jumping in.
He popped back up out of the water and said, “Thank you so much, everyone. This rocks. I love it.”
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