By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
Friends, family and strangers have rallied in a short period of time looking to fill one East Troy father’s last wish.
Nick Johnson, 28, of East Troy was recently told he has two weeks left to live after being diagnosed last October with clear cell sarcoma, a rare form of aggressive cancer.
Nick’s wife Tanya, 25, said they received the heartbreaking news that the cancer has spread throughout his body after an emergency surgery on Sept. 2.
After hearing of her husband’s desire to go to Hawaii with her and their three children, Ryan, 4, Jayden, 2 and Cadynce, 9 months before he passes, Tanya set out on a mission to complete his final wish
“He is such an amazing person and truly deserves this,” she said.
On Saturday, she started a website, Nick’s Final Wish, and a Facebook page to raise funds to send the family to Maui.
“When he made the request to go to Hawaii, I knew that I could actually finally do something to help him, even if I can’t help him in the way that I would like, to completely cure him,” Tanya said.
Hawaii has always held a special place in the Johnsons’ hearts.
After they married on June 27 of 2008, Nick and Tanya went to Hawaii for their honeymoon.
“We fell in love with it. Ever since, we’ve been saying how much we wanted to go back,” said Tanya. “Many times, we’ve talked about dropping everything and moving there.”
As of Monday night, the site she set up for her husband has reached its fundraising goal of $8,000 in donations.
Tanya said she was shocked by the support.
“I never expected it to take off like this. We’ve had people that we don’t even know donate. It’s been amazing the support that we’ve gotten,” she said.
The Johnsons have faced a rough road since Nick’s diagnosis.
Due to a tumor on his ankle, which was intertwined in his tendon and bone, Nick was forced to make the tough decision to amputate his left foot and ankle last December.
In February, Nick underwent another surgery to remove gastrointestinal stromal tumors. He lost 85 to 90 percent of his stomach and still has many complications from that surgery, Tanya said.
Months later Nick discovered that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body including his arm, spine and abdomen.
“At that point we were told there was nothing else the doctors could do, but make him comfortable,” Tanya said.
She said Nick started seeing a naturopathic doctor and started intravenous Vitamin C treatments to help boost his immune system to help him fight the cancer.
After a fast growing tumor in his abdomen burst, Nick had to have the Sept. 2 emergency surgery.
Tanya said she plans to book the trip and leave on Wednesday.
While the trip is paid for, future donations will go toward medical expenses or keeping the Johnson boys in dance class.
“This experience has finally given me some hope in a time that can sometimes feel hopeless,” said Tanya. “I feel like that’s all we’ve been given lately is bad news. It’s nice to get some good for a change. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Nick is a 2003 East Troy High School graduate.
For more information, visit http://nicksfinalrequest.webs.com/.
