"Have you ever wondered about those kids on the fundraising packets we all get in the mail? You know, the ones with cancer. To be honest, after making a donation, I never gave them a second thought, until my own son became one of them. This is Nolan's story."

The letter quotes Nicole Smith speaking about her son, for whom a fund has been set up in Amesbury. The Smith family needs all the help they can get to assist with the care of Nolan, a vulnerable 1-year-old boy with an adult-size health issue.
nolansmithNolan Smith turned 1 on May 9, and on May 18, he underwent surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. There was serious concern about his lack of progress in motor skills, and an MRI showed a mass on his brain. The tumor was on Nolan's cerebellum, the part of the brain that plays an important role in motor function.
"This explains the low muscle tone that kept our son from crawling, walking and eating on his own," his mother, Nicole, writes.
The pathology report revealed the mass to be medulloblastoma - a tumor that accounts for about 30 percent of pediatric brain tumors.
As part of the pathology, an excess of fluid had built up on Nolan's brain, causing a condition known as hydrocephalus. A permanent drain was placed to relieve the pressure the fluid was causing.
Two weeks later, the family arrived at the office of a pediatric oncologist to discuss a treatment plan involving chemotherapy. A second mass was discovered ‑ this time on Nolan's heart.
Doctors say this could continue to happen throughout his life. This second tumor led doctors to believe Nolan is one of about 150,000 people with what is called "nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome," or Gorlin Syndrome, usually caused by a gene mutation.
At barely 1-year-old, Nolan now has a permanent shunt in his head to drain the fluid and is undergoing aggressive treatment of his cancer that will last about nine months. But he requires a parent with him at all times. Nicole works at Glow, a day spa in Amesbury, but is with Nolan now, while her husband Michael continues to work full-time so the couple can keep their health insurance.
"They went from two working parents down to one," said Jodie Goucher, Nolan's godmother and Nicole's best friend. "It's all just heartbreaking."
And thus the letter was sent, as an effort to get a little financial support for the family of three. Nolan is Nicole and Michael's only child.
So far, Goucher said, they have received support from friends, area police departments and from donations dropped off at Glow.
Jen Zachary, the owner of Glow and Nicole's close friend, has posted a sign in the spa with a picture of Nolan and a plea for help. Zachary has pledged that 20 percent of sales of retail products will go to the Smith family, and people are leaving donations with her.
"So many people want to help out, and this is a way they can," she said. "[Nicole] has had a wonderful following here ‑ they're deeply concerned for her."
Goucher has set up a fund at The Provident Bank, The Nolan M. Smith Fund, and hopes that people will give a little to help a baby boy and his family. Friends are also discussing a fundraising event.

Anyone who would like to help can make a contribution in person at The Provident Bank, or mail checks to the bank at: P.O. Box 37, Amesbury, MA, 01913. Checks should be payable to Nolan M. Smith Fund.

Article From:

Friends seek help for sick Amesbury tot
By Gillian Swart/ Newburyport @cnc.com
Thu Jun 25, 2009, 11:28 AM EDT

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Last Updated (Monday, 06 July 2009 19:12)