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Meet Nick's Picks CEO Nick Wallace

The Pacific Coast Shootout would like to introduce you to our good friend Nick Wallace:

"Hi. I’m Nick. Did I mention I like lacrosse? I live in southern California with my mom and dad and sister, Lexie.

I’m sixteen years old and was born with Biliary Atresia, a pediatric liver disease. As long as I can remember, my family and I have supported the American Liver Foundation. Thanks to all those hours spent in the hospital, sometimes in isolation, I am an expert on things that are fun that pass the test to pass the time. I always put a lot of thought in to how to make the best of things, and trust me, it took me years to fine-tune my Nick’s Picks. (Bed-to-wall ratio is key in determining the perfect basketball hoop!!)

On September 28, 2012 I had my liver transplant. The day I received my new liver, Nick’s Picks received its certification as an official 501c3 charity. Nick’s Picks provides backpacks with items that I found extremely useful and entertaining when I faced long-term hospital stays.

The super cool backpacks are stuffed full of “must have” items including lacrosse socks (that not only keep you warm, but keep you looking cool in the hospital ward), a yo-yo, basketball hoop, stuffed harp seal, madlibs, a book on animals, and a Boogie Board LCD writer. The stuffed harp seal is one of my favorite items as it symbolizes peace and comfort - something I want other kids to feel. I also love the mini-basketball hoop. It is not surprising how good you can get at this with all of the time you have on your hands! And not a kid doesn’t love the Boogie Board LCD e-writer tablet. It can be used to help you communicate when you can’t speak and it’s a great way to entertain yourself and pass the time. I know what it is like to be stuck in isolation in a hospital room, and I know what a difference these backpacks can make to kids of all ages!

I know how lucky I am to be a donor recipient, and now that I am back at school and on the lacrosse field, I feel even more motivated to help out those kids who are in the hospital facing long term hospitalization. So far I have delivered backpacks stuffed full of “must have” items that help entertain and comfort kids in isolation. I have delivered these backpacks to several hospitals including: UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego, Lucile Packard Stanford Children’s Hospital. Nick’s Picks is now expanding its distribution to Ronald McDonald Houses, with recent distributions to the Stanford and San Diego Ronald McDonald Houses. Many of the children at the Ronald McDonald Houses are living away from their families and homes, and the delivery of these backpacks lifts the spirits of these kids immensely, and brings a smile to my face with every delivery. Making a difference in the lives of these kids is what drives Nick’s Picks, and this year I will distribute more than 300 backpacks.

I hope you liked my story. See you at the Shootout.

If you'd like to donate to Nick's Picks click the logo below.

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