Marine Corps names Carson City man honorary Marine

Carson City resident Nicholas Campbell, 25, on Wednesday was awarded a title of Honorary Marine by the U.S. Marine Corps for courage and dedication in his fight against cancer that has resulted in end-stage liver failure.

“I'm grateful and I'll always be grateful now I'm a Marine in a way, even if it's for a day,” Campbell said. “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

The presentation was provided by Marines based in Sacramento with representatives from U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei’s office to show their support, thanks to Campbell’s mother, Frankie Shy, and the Northern Nevada Dream Center. Shy hosted the event with NNDC Executive Director Susan Sorenson. Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell and Assemblyman PK O’Neill were in attendance, and O’Neill provided Campbell a certificate on behalf of the state.

“I think that this will put one more feather in his hat to where he feels like his life was worth something,” Shy said Tuesday. “I think it’s such a great honor. My family goes back to the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).”

Campbell hoped to go into the U.S. Marine Corps and follow in the footsteps of his family.

“Even though I am unlucky in some ways, I look at my mom and I don't think, without her help, I don't think I would have made it this far,” Campbell said.

But even though he participated in Carson High’s NJROTC program for almost two years, Campbell developed a benign tumor on his chest and other symptoms. He saw a series of specialists and his kidneys began to fail. He would eventually have a liver transplant.

“They don’t know how to fix him,” Shy said. “(The doctors) have done every test known to the Mayo Clinic.”

His medical journey became so complex, they would involve trips to the University of Utah.

“Unfortunately, he did not finish high school, and it was his wish to,” Shy said. “In resolving his health issues, something else popped up. It’s been a rare disease he’s challenged with, and there’s nothing else we can do. He’s on hospice.”

Sacramento’s Maintenance Services Co.’s 1^st Sgt. Xuchill Lupit, SSgt. Madeline Gifford and Cpl. Joshua Windham traveled to present a special certificate to Campbell, who expressed his gratitude.

Lupit said it was an honor to make the trip.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to come here and do this at his request with the current situation he’s in,” Lupit said. “He’s definitely a lively individual. … He definitely would have fit in.”

Shy, who works at Gold Dust West, said she’s taken on $45,000 in credit card debt to help fund Campbell’s treatment.

“I’ve had to swallow my pride and I’ve gone through my 401(k), all of my savings,” she said. “I’m going to have to work until my body gives out. I just need to start focusing on living a simple life, and I’m just spinning my wheels right now.”

The Northern Nevada Dream Center has helped Shy and Campbell in starting a GoFundMe page to help fundraise, and the goal is to provide at least $25,000 for the family.

O’Neill said he was proud to represent the community and the state.

“I know the man has tried hard and well to keep his family service reputation,” O’Neill said. “The very least we can do is to honor him and his whole family for what they've done collectively and individually.”

Carson High School’s NJROTC program provided him with a certificate of recognition and shadowbox with ribbons presented by three students in a ceremony, Shy said.

The suggestion to receive assistance from the Northern Nevada Dream Center came from Bagwell.

“I felt so honored to hook her up with the Dream Center because I knew that that was a good fit,” Bagwell said. “It's no wonder that I see such a strong young man is because you see a role model of a man that was able to just truly tell him, this is adversity and this is how we come through it.”

Donations will assist with medical expenses and end-of-life care. Funds raised will cover mounting medical bills and car repairs for Campbell’s mother, according to updates from the NNDC.

She’s also thankful for other agencies who have helped in simple ways.

“It’s getting back into a car, laying him down, getting into a hotel,” she said. “The (Carson City) Fire Department was nice enough. His birthday was in August. He wanted to see the new ‘Deadpool’ movie. They helped him get him to my SUV. They helped him get into the movie theater.”

Wednesday’s event would be memorable for the family, according to NNDC Dream Center’s Susan Sorenson.

"We are so proud of Nick and being able to watch him fight so courageously has been an honor,” Sorenson said. "Being named an Honorary Marine is a testament to his strength and determination, and we are deeply grateful to the Marine Corps for recognizing him in this way."

To donate, visit https://gofund.me/e2f99255. Donations to date have helped cover mounting medical bills and provided essential care for Campbell and car repairs for Shy.