Initially Nick was diagnosed after he had a stomach ache that wouldn’t go away while he was on vacation surfing in San Diego with his swim team buddies. The pain never returned but when he got home, a CT revealed an abdominal mass that was later identified as DCRST. His initial pathology was done at Mayo and then confirmed at Indiana University as desmoplastic sarcoma.
Nick has five abdominal masses ranging from 5 to 12 cm in diameter. After approximately 4 months of treatment, doctors attempted a resection in May 2008 which resulted in only a biopsy of tissue. The surgeon explained that debulking would have severely compromised his quality of life and not have been successful. They told Nick’s father he would not see December of 2009 and sent him home for palliative chemo. In June 2008, after recovering from surgery, he started a trial in Louisville, KY. His tumors were stable on this trial until June 2009 when he progressed and had to be taken off.
Here we are, three years, and six treatments later, and we have no interest in giving up our future now. April, May, and June were tough. We were in the hospital having procedures done because of a tumor obstruction in his bile and pancreatic duct.He is now weak, slighter by about 60 lbs, and awaiting a cohort in a new trial that may make him lose his hair or another trial where he will have mouthsores. Either way, I want to marry that man however he ends up!He recently told me that he’d be ok if he could stand for 15 minutes at our wedding. I’ll take him for ten minutes.
But the thing is, our fight isn’t over yet. Nick may be starting a new trial at the end of July and if he does, by September or October Nick should feel strong, have his hair back and stand for a solid thirty minutes and maybe even eat an entire half sandwich before putting it down.
At that same stay we realized that the only time we have together in this life was right now and that he and I wanted to spend the rest of each others lives together. He proposed on fathers day and I said yes, of course! I will spend every breath I have to make this man comfortable, and complete with himself, God, and me.
Wish Upon a Wedding asked Bahar, “What is most important for your wedding?” She continues her story.We could sit in our living room and declare our love for one another but we want to celebrate our life, our love, and our gratitude with our friends and families around us.
But I am not marrying a cancer patient, I am marrying a man with a central Illinois drawl, a passion for Dots one box at a time, and a dedication to me as my best friend and ultimately, his wife.
I am a little overwhelmed because my fiancé is a little more tired than other peoples’ fiancées, and he might be a little less crazy than he used to be but I love him. I don’t think its fair that when I look at him and how exhausted and skinny he has become, I get angry sometimes. But he is mine in all of his forms, and if I could, I would wish it could be me and not him. My handsome collegiate swimmer looks at me with an empty shell through his various pain meds and thinking about our wedding and me is what makes him smile.
This couple is incredibly in love and we are honored to be able to provide them with the wedding of their dreams. The Chicago team donated a beautiful wedding to this special couple in October of 2010.
Congratulations to this wonderful couple from all of us at Wish Upon a Wedding and a ver special thank you goes to all our Wish Granters.
Antique Car: Flying Lady Livery
Calligraphy: Baltic Studios
Caterer (Food, Servers & Bartenders): Fig Catering
Ceremony Officiant: Spirited Weddings (Bruce Otto)
Cocktail Hour String Trio: Elle Musique
Dinner & Reception Music: Roy Vombrack Orchestra
Favors: Budget Bridez
Florist: Elizabeth Wray Design
Formalwear: Formally Modern Tuxedo
Handkerchief for the Couple: Li’l Inspirations
Hair Styling for Bahar: Sonia Roselli
Hotel for Nick & Bahar: Hotel Palomar
Lighting: Intelligent Lighting Creations
Linens: Tabletoppers
Makeup for Bahar: Laura Black
Photographer: Amanda Hein
Rentals: Halls Rental
Stationer (Invitations & Printed Materials): Sealed with a J
Transportation: Windy City Trolley
Venue: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Videographer: Chicago Cinematic Weddings
Wedding Cake: Tipsy Cake
Wedding Coordinator: Greatest Expectations
But I am not marrying a cancer patient, I am marrying a man with a central Illinois drawl, a passion for Dots one box at a time, and a dedication to me as my best friend and ultimately, his wife.
This couple is incredibly in love and we are honored to be able to provide them with the wedding of their dreams. The Chicago team donated a beautiful wedding to this special couple in October of 2010.
I am a Certified Wedding Celebrant in the Chicago area, and altho I have not yet registered with Wish Upon a Wedding, I would like to volunteer to officiate Nick and Bahar’s wedding.
You may reach me at my email address above or by phone at 847-215-7715.
Blessings,
Michele Rose
Congratulations Nick and Bahar! I hope your wedding is beautiful! You are inspiring and we wish you both every happiness!
Good luck to the Chicago team! We are cheering you on from Nashville!
Hi Michele- Can you please fill out a wish granter application here: http://wishuponawedding.org/chapter-locations/chicago/wish-granters-chicago/
You MAY be contacted to assist with this or other future wishes
Thanks so much for your support!
Bahar & Nick -
Congrats on the engagement and upcoming wedding! It’s such an exciting time. My husband and I were married last year on Halloween. My husband is a 9 yr brain tumor (cancerous) survivor and I suffer from fibromyalgia. My husband has passed up every “life expectancy” that his oncologists have predicted. He actually went through a 2nd round of radiation that finished up about a month before our wedding.
A few tips to get through everything (although with this organization your stress should be minimal):
Make a list of what is important to the 2 of you, and figure out where you can make changes to help with Nick’s fatigue issues. Keep the day as simple as possible – we actually did everything in one location over a 5 hr time period. People will always have opinions on situations like this – ignore them and just listen to each other and what you want.
To this day – my husbands response about our wedding…”It was so much fun. I certainly didn’t feel like I was dying of cancer.”
Good luck and best wishes to the happy couple – Karyn
@michele Thanks for your kind words and offering your service to us. That is very nice of you.
@Kimberly I’m glad we are an inspiration to you. Yes we are very confident in WUW and excited to see what they come up with our wedding! Thanks for the southern support!
Since this was written there have been some new updates with my chemo. I will be starting a new trial tomorrow. Just living the life of killing cancer on a daily basis. That’s what I do & that’s what I’m good at doing.
Nick
I know these two people personally. They are amazing to say the least. The love they provide each other is endless!!!
Congrats to the both of them!! Wish Upon a Wedding picked a great couple to honor!
It is easy to love when things are going smoothly, but when you still have love and laughter during the tough times…that is when you know your love is the real deal. And you two have so much love and laughter! Here’s to an amazing wedding this fall! I love you both and am so happy for you two!
Nick and Bahar, I wish you the best of luck for many, many years of happiness. You are blessings for everyone who has the pleasure to meet you. Nick, I’m curious about this ‘awesome’ costume. Bahar, I know everyone missed you at CowaLUNGa. I’m so excited for you both! Congratulations on your engagement!
Having grown “up” through our college years with Schmidty one lane over in the EIU swimming pool, I saw him challenge himself through races, practices and business courses and, when compared to the wins in and out of the classroom, NEVER have I seen him as happy as he is with Bahar. Their love is a force – and a HUGE win – to be reckoned with.
We are so happy for you both!
I am so thrilled and honored to be the wedding planner working with Nick and Bahar. They are joyous people who deserve the wedding and life of their dreams. I’m thankful that they are trusting me to make their wedding day as perfect as possible and I’m inspired by their passion and love.
I so love my rad cousin and her awesome fiance. I always wish newlyweds that their love becomes legendary. I kinda think you guys are on your way there already! How special to be that couple in this lifetime. Whoda thunk before the two of you happened that you guys, with all of your goofing and joking around, would create a relationship that would define love in a timeless manner for so many people? Mobarak.
What a beautiful love you two share. It is evident from your story that you were meant to be, regardless of what life has in store. I am also a bride-to-be and your story made me get teary-eyed. Try not to be overwhelmed, though … it’s a stressful process but I know it will be a beautiful and memorable day for you!
Only one more week! I cant wait to share this important day with you both! Thanks so much Wish Upon A Wedding for providing this amazing gift to my friends!
We are thrilled to be catering Nick & Bahar’s wedding TONIGHT.
Nick and Bahar,
I hope this note reaches you. We met you during the Beluga encounter at the Shedd Aquarium, and of course, you are both in our pictures! I want you to know I have walked the path you are now travelling with my adorable husband Brian. Nick, you remind me of him with your perserverance and wonderful attitude and outlook. It is clear how loved you are by Bahar, and she in return. I will pray for you both on this journey, knowing that you’re both strong because you have each other. Warm regards, Laura
Hello,I dont know if you have seen my story but Im a 23yr old mother and fiancee waiting on a wedding wish who has the same exact cancer as you do. I have lived for a yr with thiis being told every doctors appt its only a matter of months.They found my cancer 9days after my son was born, i have stage4. Im currently getting treatment at uva were I was told he was the 0NLY doctor who had ever treated my cancer. I was told lots of things at this point as Im sure u were tooo.PPLLLEEAASSEE contact me I would love to talk to you or maybe our drs could, and maybe teach each other something new to help me and you futhur.Ive recently been told starting dec1stthe hospital were I go will no longer take my insurance and im unsure what we will do from here!!!!!! U can find me on facebook!!Best wishes!!!!!!!1