Pop-up becomes Make-A-Wish

FARGO

Steven Nicholson thinks his new camper is "cool."

The 15-year-old Stirum, N.D., resident was all smiles Tuesday at McLaughlin's RV & Marine in Fargo after he arrived with family members and was presented with a new pop-up Jayco camper.

Nicholson, who has been battling brain cancer for more than a year and is in remission, received the camper thanks to officials with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Dakota and McLaughlin's.

Nicholson, dressed in a camouflage-colored winter jumpsuit and orange hat, toured the camper after Make-A-Wish officials broke the news that his wish came true.

"I think it's a good prize," he said. "Thank you, guys."

Make-A-Wish officials prepared the camper for Nicholson by filling it with camping necessities such as bedding, cooking utensils, an atlas and folding chairs.

"You ready to go camping?" quipped Hazel Eberle, Nicholson's grandmother.

"Now," he replied while those present laughed.

Kayla Foltz, office manager for Make-A-Wish's Fargo office, said Tuesday was not the first time the organization has given a camper away for a wish. She said her office worked with McLaughlin's to get Nicholson's camper ready in two weeks.

Nicholson later said with a smile he will have "no more chemo."

Nicholson has endured several weeks of radiation treatment, months of chemotherapy treatment and had surgery to remove a golf-ball-sized tumor from his brain stem since his diagnosis.

Tuesday's event comes a day after doctors removed a feeding tube and chemotherapy port from Nicholson, which were used during treatments.

"It was like an enormous weight was lifted off of our shoulders," said Tracy Nicholson, Steven's mother. She said Steven attends homebound schooling and studies with two teachers.

Steven, who has gone camping with family since he was a baby, still has trouble dealing with extreme heat and cold temperatures, Tracy Nicholson said of his winter wear. "For now, everything's good. We live one day at a time and never take anything for granted."

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.