The Nicholas Colby Fund
About Nicholas
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Nicholas' Biography

Nicholas Colby Gilbert was born on January 27, 2000 and lived in Lafayette, California. He was a vibrant and happy little boy enjoying all the beautiful relationships:  neighbors, school, and broader Bay Area connections that helped shape his life. Nicholas spent vacations in common/uncommon destinations for children & families in California as well as Hawaii; Vancouver & Montreal, Canada; Nevada; and Colorado. Our precious little sunshine passed away following a year and a half battle with Leukemia on May 25, 2006. Nicholas was surrounded by family and lots of friends creating a warm, wonderful, & peaceful atmosphere filling the air with love as he ascended to Heaven. Nicholas was a beautiful son, the perfect little brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend-still blessing us all today with his rays of sunshine continually warming our hearts.

Nicholas
  • In May 2002, at the age of 2 1/2 Nicholas started preschool at Diablo Valley Montessori School - On November 19, 2004 Nicholas was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.)
  • Intense chemotherapy started the following morning…and the 1st full day of the leukemia journey
  • In mid-December 2004 he was diagnosed further with Hypodiploid-A.L.L.…a rare chromosome abnormality in the cancer cells meaning a bone marrow transplant was his best chance for a cure
  • On April 7, 2005 Nicholas received a matched-unrelated-donor bone marrow transplant
  • On September 5, 2005 the cancer returned-relapse-despite the bone marrow transplant - Nicholas' leukemia journey took him from Children's Hospital Oakland, Stanford-Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH), The Children's Hospital-Denver, Colorado, and back to LPCH
  • On May 23, 2006, during ongoing treatment, Nicholas contracted an infection that took his life on May 25, 2006

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