Nick Snow’s Story
Nevada Union High School News Paper
by Jordan Harp
4/30/06

“Life is your right, don’t give up the fight,” the words of Bob Marley, and the motto of Nevada Union sophomore Nick Snow. Although diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (a form of cancer) at the age of six, Nick snow fought his right to life for seven years and beat his cancer.

Recently, Nick Snow passed away due to complications post cancer treatment. Although he had beat his cancer, Nick’s body went through so much chemotherapy and other treatment that his body became weak. His legacy of true friendship for everybody he met will be remembered forever. He only lived 16 years, but Nick Snow lived a fuller life than most people will experience in 80 years.

Nick was interested in politics, astronomy, music, film, and many other things, but he was known for his love and friendliness for every one he knew.

“Nick used to hang out with the kids from special ED so that everyone would realize that they were worth as much time and friendship as everybody else. Nick didn’t judge anybody by their skin color, their problems, or their mental capabilities, he saw everyone as equal.” Says Shannon Snow, Nick’s mother.

Nick was known for his kindness and his skittles. He would carry around a bag of skittles and often offer them to anyone who wasn’t having a good day, other times he would give the skittles out just to be nice. Which is why Nick’s Nevada Union locker, used as a sort of alter for Nick to be remembered by, is now often filled with skittles.

“Nick started eating skittles when he was young. Many kids with cancer like skittles because they have a sweet, tart flavor that stands out even though the cancer treatment often causes patients to lose their taste. He just loved skittles.” Says Shannon Snow.

Not only was Nick’s presence felt at our school, he touched people around the world with his political activism and inspiring story. After Nick’s seven year fight against his cancer, he wanted to make a difference for children of the future who might face what he had to face: death over his shoulder.

Recently re-named the Nick Snow Hospice and Palliative Care Act of 2006, Nick Snow’s bill is going to change lives in the future. Currently, minors cannot get Hospice care unless their doctor says they have less than six months to live,  Nick’s bill will allow minors to get help right at diagnosis.  Also, Nick's bill will allow minors to get some of their care and treatment at home instead of in the hospital.

Nick has traveled for a few years to speak to doctors, congressmen, whoever would listen, Nick would put on his suit and show his presentation.

“Nick was fearless, he spoke in front a sub-committee of the senate one time in D.C., he got up there and did his power point presentation in front of 300 people. He is changing the world. The bill will likely be passed this June.” Says Shannon Snow. Nick’s website, www.nicksnow.com has already received 26,000 visitors this month.

“There are so many ways that Nick was able to change the world during his lifetime. There was one day during his treatment when he said to me, ‘mom, no more shots’, because during his treatment, Nick would have to take at least a shot a day. So I found a way to mix the injection with another part of his medicine and he didn’t have to take any more shots. Today, children with cancer often don’t have to take shots because of this.” Says Shannon Snow.

Nick’s fight was for children’s rights, but his love was for drumming.

“Nick was an un-believable drummer, he had a full drum-set, but he also loved Djembe drums. His goal was to drum for a living as an adult. He wanted to make his own album. We (Nick’s family) are going to produce and release his album sometime soon, Nick wants all the proceeds to go to his cause. I remember, because Nick had cancer for so long, we had so many opportunities to do amazing things and meet amazing people. Nick was friends with many famous musicians and I remember one of the drummers said he couldn’t keep up with Nick on the Djembe drum. Whenever Nick was strong enough to be active he would drum. He knew drum beats from cultures around the world and would incorporate them in his music,” says Shannon Snow, “he chose music the way he chose his friends, he didn’t judge it based on the era or genre it came from, he just appreciated it for what it was. His musical interest was so wide-spread, he just loved music.”

Nick filled every day of his life with experiences and activity. He had the motto: no regrets for any day. Driven by the ideas of the movie What the Bleep is Going On? and Masaru Emoto’s book The Hidden Messages in the Water, Nick believed that one’s thoughts and actions create the reality around them. This was one of the reasons that he avoided getting down on his illness from a very early age.

“We weren’t sure how long he would live when he was diagnosed. He was such a happy child, usually a child that burns that bright under such strain will burn out early, Nick never burned out. By the time he was thirteen, Nick could not remember what it was like to not have cancer. But he was always happy.” Says Shannon Snow.

Nick enjoyed the red carpet and was able to attend some movie premiers in his lifetime. He became friends with actors such as Tobey Maguire, Leonardo Dicaprio, Jackie Chan and others. He knew the members of the Grateful Dead and hung out with them on occasion. He also knew Patch Adams, a doctor famous for curing through laughter. He knew Barbara Boxer, the Democratic California Senator. Nick caught people’s eye because he had an energy and friendliness that everyone wanted to share. He had many friends at NU and considered attending school and learning a privilege since he had almost died a few years before and even had death as a possibility after the cancer. For Nick, School was important in life, not drugs or partying. But he still found ways to enrich his life, such as the trip to swim with dolphins he took a few months before his death. He had a hard time keeping weight for much of his life but he still smiled through the hard times.

The skittles he gave out were a kind gesture to his peers, but they were also a symbol of his strength, a symbol of what he had been through. He lived his life to its fullest, but also kept his boundaries. On a recent trip to Washington, Nick politely declined an offer to visit the White House and meet the President due to his own opinion on the state of the world and the current administration. But he was always optimistic, he replied to the invitation, ‘I don’t feel well now, but I will come the next time I am in town.’ He always planned on a next time because he knew it was his right. Nick Snow’s body may have finally broken, but his spirit will never give up the fight.