In Memory of Nick

Normally, my Wednesday evenings are spent at church helping out with the high school youth group, but last night, hundreds of people came to church for a much different reason - to celebrate the life of Nick Colombo, who passed away last Friday after battling bone cancer for more than four years.

I've known Nick and his older brother Ricky for more than four years as well and regardless of whether or not he was in remission, he always had a smile on his face.

Nick graduated from Valencia High School this past June and turned 18 in July. He was like any other 18-year-old boy - he loved to eat, play sports, and of course, give his brothers a hard time. He had a heart of gold, always wanting to give even when he physically couldn't - his body and heart couldn't seem to meet in the middle.

Hundreds of people were in attendance last night, honoring a life well fought for and lived out. Pastors, family members, friends from church and school, and even members of the media reminisced on memories shared with Nick. Looking out into the audience, you could see that Nick's life made an impact on everyone he came in contact with, providing each of us inspiration, hope and strength to move on.

Nick was such an incredible young man and it's hard for me to comprehend why God would take someone of such caliber away from us. Although Nick's condition - and even outcome - was no surprise, you can never really prepare for the death of someone you care about. He had so much life left to live and so much more he wanted to accomplish and it just doesn't seem fair. The only logic I can see in his death is that Jesus wanted him all to himself.

The memorial service was all around beautiful with a fair share of crying and laughing involved. So much was said about Nick but yet the surface of his life has really yet to be scratched. But the thing that hit home with me the most was the fact that Nick's death was his parents' third loss. I didn't know this, but Rick and Patti apparently had twin girls in 1985 who passed away at birth. God blessed them with Ricky a few years later, followed by Nick and Brett, who has down syndrome. I can't imagine what Rick and Patti must be feeling. They have poured so much into every child and it breaks my heart that they've have to bury not one, but three of their children.

Have they had moments of frustration and anger with God? Undoubtedly. Have they ever given up? Not a chance. Instead, they pick up their cross and continue to follow God. That to me is the ultimate testiment of faith and when I think about, Nick's life was a testiment of their faith to him.

We miss you Nick.

~Brooke