A Letter From Nicholas' Life-Long Friend Writing To Nicholas About Heaven, Santa Claus, And More...
Joey is Nicholas' life-long friend and this weekend Joey's parents found a letter in his backpack he wrote to Nicholas. This heartwarming, sensitive, touching letter brought tears to our eyes as well as joy in our hearts as our precious Nicholas and Joey are truly friends forever.
And you may remember Joey from the Memorial Service and Celebration of Life where Joey wrote and read his message to Nicholas going to heaven.
We trust, we believe, and we are thankful for God's touches of love letting us "just know" that we are with Nicholas as he is with us.
Happy Thanksgiving or "Big Chicken Day"......
as Nicholas would call it! We are thankful for God's love and touch that enables us to "just know" that Nicholas is never gone, never far, forever in our hearts and souls. We are thankful that Nicholas said one day, even before his leukemia diagnosis, "Father, if we can't see each other or touch each other, we 'just know' that we are in each other's heart and soul!"
We are thankful for family, long-standing friends, and new friends met via our private life that blends with our lives around The Nicholas Colby Fund. We are thankful for our continuously growing and blossoming relationships with children's hospitals and array of business partners collaborating with us toward our work we call Helping Children Be Children.
We are thankful for "you" who help us and the strength and passion that surrounds The Nicholas Colby Fund so our events/experiences can continuously uplift the spirits of children our work touches...until there is a cure. We are thankful for the doctors and researchers...and when there is a cure The Nicholas Colby Fund will be "there" helping to uplift the spirits of survivors.
We are thankful and love knowing God loves you, us, and blesses our work!
Happy Thanksgiving...I mean "Big Chicken Day!"
Nicholas and Mother’s Day – A gift for ever that he must have seen
I believe Mother’s Day 2009, as every day, is a link to a moment in time providing a loving gift to/from every mother from/to their children and family. Mother’s Day 2006 was a couple of weeks before Nicholas transcended to heaven – that moment in time is when Nicholas reminded us of a Na Hoku jewelry piece that he saw in Hawaii on one of our first trips. (Most of you know Nicholas’ love for Hawaii and water). Na Hoku is Hawaiian for “Stars” and he picked out the Nalani collection that means “The Heavens” – a look as infinite and timeless as the heavens.
So on this Mother’s Day, as every day, I’m so grateful for every mother and every woman who shares their lives with children. I’m grateful for that infinite and timeless love. And for Sheila, I’m so grateful Nicholas is never gone, never far, always in her heart and soul – and vibrantly alive in our lives in so many ways. I thank God that Nicholas knew and knows that God loves him and trust & believe Nicholas is playing and having fun with Jesus. (Do you remember Nicholas playing with the dolphin Hoku Photo Number 10 ?)
This Mother's Day we spent it at Hotel Nikko (yes, Nicholas' nickname)
May 25, 2009
Nicholas' third year in heaven As I sit in the home office of The Nicholas Colby Fund...
I’m listening to Hawaiian music and with the window open I hear the sweet sounds of birds chirping (Nicholas loved Hawaii)
I’m thinking about Sheila’s perfect love for Nicholas (and our other boys)
I see so many beautiful pictures and touches of love (looking out at the pool its glimmering glow reminds me of Nicholas diving in and swimming; and seeing a squirrel scamper about reminds me of Nicholas saying out loud, “Mom, a squirrel is in your plants again!”)
I smell the wonderful scent of flowers (Nicholas enjoyed gardening with mom)
I feel Nicholas with me (his beautiful smile and warm, loving touch being the perfect little boy that he is).
I’m so grateful to see Nicholas in my dreams and see him in all aspects of my life. Three years ago cancer took his physical life here on earth—it didn’t take away his love or humor during his 1 ½ years living with cancer. He was a beautiful son, the perfect little brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend helping us all to smile then and now.
I thank God for allowing me to know Nicholas touched all who knew him with his dynamic smile and personality. His amazing spirit, energy, enthusiasm, joy, and endless passion for caring about others provided/provides an inspiration for love and life. Everyone blessed to know him, loved him and loves him today; and those blessed to be touched today through an aspect of his love, The Nicholas Colby Fund, loves him today.
Our precious Nicholas, we are so grateful you knew and know God loves you. Remember the moments we would say “Whether I can see you, hear you, or touch you…I just know that you are always in my heart & soul!" There are many blessings we always feel and see knowing you are ever present in our lives and the spirit of the Nicholas Colby Fund – helping children be children. We are blessed believing and trusting through God that you are playing & having fun with Jesus.
You are never gone/never far, forever in our hearts & souls. We love you!
This Easter...so grateful knowing Love is always there
Love is always there and so very clear on Easter knowing that God’s love and Jesus’ touch is ever present. Remember, Nicholas and I would say, “Whether I can see you, hear you, or touch you…I just know that you are always in my heart & soul!"
There are many blessings we always feel and see, knowing Nicholas is ever present in our lives and the guiding light of the Nicholas Colby Fund. We are blessed that Nicholas knew that God loved him, and we are blessed trusting and believing that through God, Nicholas is playing & having fun with Jesus.
Nicholas' 9th birthday and his loving touch is all around us, and guides the Nicholas Colby Fund (2008 recap below)
Today…well it was Nicholas’ 9th birthday with the last 2 ½ years in heaven with God and playing & having fun with Jesus. Tonight…we had a quite, loving, spirited dinner at one of Nicholas’ favorite restaurants – Blue Ginko.
Thank you all for your emails, telephone calls, guestbook messages, and red balloons some of you held for Nicholas – the pictures you shared of this are so beautiful. We miss him so much physically and lovingly enjoy him spiritually. Nicholas is never gone, never far, forever in our hearts and souls. His touch is all around and we are also grateful for the touches of love many of you share with us. Nicholas, aside from his touches of love to us and you, his love guides the Nicholas Colby Fund.
2008 Nicholas Colby Fund Recap:
Awards
A sample of guestbook messages about our work “helping children be children”
Snapshot of events and experiences
Awards
2008 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society inaugural Light The Night Inspiration Award Recipient
2008 22nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Commemorative Award Recipient
A Few 2008 Guestbook Messages From Patients/Parents About The Nicholas Colby Fund:
Stanford-Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Dear Lamont and Sheila, on the way home from the Warrior game last night, little Haley says from the back seat, "that was my best day ever, I went to a basketball game....and I'm only 6". After the complications Shawn suffered after his heart transplant...to see him down there as honorary captain was the most beautiful experience for this mom. I can't express how grateful I am for last night, for you care and concern over Shawn...and the love you expressed to all of us. It was the best experience.....we will never forget it.
Shawn loved it more than he even thought he would...he still has stars in his eyes....and thinks Sheila hung the stars and moon because she was into the video games! we will think of you all often & keep you in our prayers.
Thank you again for giving Shawn a once in a lifetime experience....after so many months in the hospital.
With love, Trista, Shawn, Haley....and the rest of those Stockwell's :)
On August 15, 2008 when we were in the clinic at Stanford-Lucile Packard Children's Hospital we were pleasantly surprised with tickets from your fund. My daughter really enjoyed the circus on August 16 and it was the first experience from my two little boys.
We have been undergoing treatment for a year now with little effect. Thank you for the wonderful day to take our mind off her illness and enjoy being a kid again.
Deanna Nail-Owen
Thank you so much. Our son Tomas was just diagnosed with ALL Leukemia about a month ago. When he was diagnosed it felt like our lives would never be normal again; and that for his birthday, August 16th, we would end up spending it at home or in a hospital, instead of the way we would have liked, with an outing and a huge party. Thanks to your foundation, we spent his birthday at the circus. This experience was not only something that provided Tomas with great joy, but also helped us, his parents, to see that he could be a normal kid. The experience brought tears to my eyes. We can't begin to tell you how much that day meant to us all. Thank you so very much.
Diego, Jenny, and Tomas
We first want to say, we are very sorry for your lose. It's very sad that our little guys have to go through this stuff. Our Son Matthew, is fighting brain cancer right now and we understand a little of what you went through. We want to thank you for the 49er tickets, we received from Stanford-Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Our little guy is at Stanford now, getting his 5th round of chemo. We had a great time at the game. It was Matthew, his brother Michael, Matthew's friend Adrian and Matthew's Dad.
I hope you guys find time to reflect on all the good memories you have of Nicholas, it's one of things that can never be taken from us. Thanks for all you guys do, for others like us.
The McCullough's
Children's Hospital Oakland
Thank you so much for the fabulous gift back pack! We are moved not only by its generosity but how thoughtfully chosen each item is. It is perfect for our son Zach, who is one year old and hospitalized at CHO for acute myeloid leukemia. We also were thrilled with our visit from the harpists--you are doing wonderful, wonderful work.
Julie, Ben, and Zachary
Thank you for inviting Kyle to the Warrior's Clinic. Kyle had such a great time and so did I! It was the first time Kyle left school early and DIDN'T have to have any kind of medical treatment. It was also the first time Kyle had played basketball since the day he was diagnosed over a year ago. He thought it was really cool to meet Monte Ellis and Thunder. Thanks so much for having such a great event where kids can be kids!"
Jeff, Esther, and Kyle Lane
Thanks again for the Warriors Basketball Clinic. You've made it possible to have another lasting memory for Troy and I. We really enjoyed ourselves. Yes...we finally were able to meet Monte Ellis. It was very exciting. Troy really had a work out that day. He actually fell asleep on the way home.
Love, Carrie and Troy
UCSF - Children's Hospital
Dear Lamont and Sheila,
I will like to take this time to Thank you both for a wonderful night at the Warrior Game 12/12/08. We had a really good time! Trevon really enjoy the tour, the game and the gifts :-). You guys are wonderful and keep up the good work to making kids (Teens) happy.
Barbara and Trevon Johnson
I was fortunate enough to have the tickets to the Warriors game last night offered to me from the wonderful people at UCSF pediatric clinic where I have been being treated for Neuroblastoma. A close friend and my parents and I enjoyed the game against the team from Lithuania. I am a huge Warriors fan and love watching live basketball. My family and I have had a great deal of stress and frustration lately with treatments and insurance issues. Thanks to your kindhearted donation I was able to forget about cancer and all that I have been going through for a night to be with loved ones doing something I really enjoy. Thank you so much for your donation; it really meant a lot.
Zach Swan
Last week we were given tickets to the circus...my son has been really sick these last couple of months and he hasn't been able to go anywhere or be a normal four-year old and just play and be a kid. He was just released from UCSF after being in for six weeks after having brain surgery. It just felt really good to see him enjoy his self and be a kid again. We still have a long road ahead of us but its great to have foundations like these that can allow kids with cancer to still be able to be a kid and enjoy them self. So with all that being said me and my family just want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sharonda Payton
Recap of 2008 Events & Experiences:
- Backpacks for patients diagnosed with cancer
- Nutritional Packs for parents/guardians in the pediatric intensive care unit
- Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Harlem Globetrotters, and more
- Basketball Clinics with the Golden State Warriors
- Exclusive pre-game tour of Oracle Arena, on-court opportunities including honorary captain, and post-game holiday event with the
- Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors professional basketball games and San Francisco 49ers professional football games
- Harp experiences
- Patient Gift Giving Experience
- Thanksgiving Day dinners
- And more...
