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Two Summers ago, I had to great fortune to meet one of the most inspiring humans I have ever met. A young boy, not even yet a teenager but filled with so much wisdom and hope, Nicholas Parscale of Lawrence, Kansas turned my heart inside out.

It has been a trying few years for Nick and his family, as Nick was diagnosed with pineal blastoma, a form of cancer, at the age of 9. Now 14, Nick is a two-time cancer survivor who continues to encourage and inspire all of those around him. In the years that have followed, he's created a podcast (Nick The Brave) all about chemos, kitties, and canines where he interviews the positive people he’s met along his journey, helped connect children battling cancer with animals from rescue agencies, watched the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl live, and provided inspiration to countless individuals across the globe.

Our acquaintance was born through our mutual friend, Kerri Sitrin, another beautiful human being with a heart as bright as gold, who befriended Nick years ago through her support of Big Slick KC. Kerri planned an incredible weekend for Nick and his mom, Geri, to visit and explore Philadelphia with our group of friends.

First up was macaron making! Nicholas’s love of cooking runs deep (he even met the master Gordon Ramsay through Make-A-Wish), and he had been dying to learn how to make macarons. Here we are demonstrating the perfect stiff meringue — hold it upside down and it won’t fall onto your head!

Next we spent a fun-filled afternoon at The Phillies game. At the game, seeing that I wore a bunch of bracelets on my left arm just like he did, Nicholas reached over and asked why I wore so many. I told him each one has a story, given to me by someone I love. Turning to his mom, I heard him whisper, “Can I give Monica one of my bracelets?” And the next thing I know, he’s sliding a yellow band from his hand and into mine. My heart just melted and tears began streaming down my face. It was truly a moment I will cherish forever.

We concluded our day with a fantastic dinner at our friend Chef Jennifer Carroll’s restaurant Spice Finch, where Jen invited Nick back into the kitchen to cook with her!

Needless to say, this was a day to remember, and I feel incredibly honored that Nick asked to interview me for his podcast!! In this episode of Nick The Brave, Nick digs deep to find out why I chose a path of positivity. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did. Follow Nick on his journey through Nick The Brave. Be kind, smile, and have FUN!