Atis

"If I ever have kids, and they are upset, I won't tell them that there are people starving in China or anything like that because it wouldn't change the fact that they are upset. And even if somebody else has it much worse, that doesn't change the fact that you have is what you have." - Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower I like that one :eek2:

Ha, I'm usually here. If I'm not posting ... which I'm usually not, I'm at least reading the News updates. Kinda sucks to be an Internet wallflower.

Hey my names Nick and well, I'm kind of new. I've been using this site for a good portion of this year. I just haven't really felt the need to post anything. I know, not the best way for people to get to know me :) but I'm working on that Internet shy thing. I have pretty much used this site for all the science news updates. I LOVE what I find on here and since the web is my only source of education, this place suits me well. I have been attempting to get into college but recurrent Hodgkin's lymphoma is kind of an obstacle. I was diagnosed when I was 13, and I'm now 21. Yea ... Hodgkin's has the 90% cure rate. As the docs say, it's the one you want. I'm not too bitter about it despite some of the crap that has happened. I've undergone a load of chemotherapy, radiation, 2 stem cell transplants (myoablative-autologous & mini-allogeneic), open heart surgery from a thrombus in my right atrium (caused from a central line). Oh yea, I also have bad lungs from a complication with the mini-allo transplant. Graft Vs. Host Disease is it's official name, but it pretty much gave me fibrosis in a good part of my lungs (Bronchiolitis Obliterans) . I blow out 1 Liter of air over 1 second. I think prior to this complication it was around 5 liters. Okay! I'm not doing this for sympathy :) I'm pretty much used to this stuff so I'm not really here for a comfort group. It's just this is a big part of my life, I wish I had a job to tell you about but I guess this takes up a little too much time for much else. The real reason I'm here is because I really love science!! And I intend to use my brain to it's best potential no matter if it's in my bedroom, college, or a lab. I think among my favs are Physics, Astronomy, Evolution, Bio is a forced fav. I have a bunch of E-books on them but they are a bit difficult to get through on your own. The Teaching Company is also helping me out with some of their lectures. I'm trying to cover some lectures by Feynman that I just recently aquired (not ttc). I also get to nab books when my GF is done with her college classes, sadly she's a creative writing major so they are quite limited in scientific quality. I also love music. Listening and playing it. I am by no means great at the guitar but I get by. The piano I am even less skilled at. I am taking up the violin as well ... and for me it is the most difficult by far. The other hobbies are cars and street bikes. The usual guy stuff I guess. Since, I live in Florida I'm also trying to take up body boarding and surfing, but I hear it's not the best idea when you can't breathe and can get an infection in your central line. I am ,however, still trying. I'm sorry about writing a ridiculously long post, and I really wasn't trying to pull the drama thing. Cancer just takes a really good portion of my life. It doesn't really bother me so it's not too bad talking about it. Not too mention if you need any medical advice I can probably find a doc who can get some decent answers for you :) Other than getting a doctor's advice I claim no expertise. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your community. I need all of the learning help I can get. Nick