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A Good Guy Gets Sick

Last year I wrote a column about Nick Cheolas, a young guy from the Detroit suburbs who became interested in the criminal justice system after witnessing some appalling behavior from police and other local officials in a case involving his family. Cheolas went on to law school at the University of Michigan, where his experience at home spurred him to get involved with the school's innocence clinic. There, he worked on a team that won the release of Dwayne Provience, a man who had spent nearly a decade in prison for a murder it's pretty clear he didn't commit. (After much hemming and hawing, prosecutors finally announced in March that they wouldn't attempt to try Provience again.)

I'm sorry to say that Nick's story has taken a bummer of a turn. Last July he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has started a blog (Arrested Development fans: take note of the title) where he writes about his treatment, opines on legal issues, and discusses the various other topics about which we bloggers tend to bloviate. If you'd like to click over, I'm sure he'd appreciate knowing he has support out in libertarian land.

Also, if the idea of following an online diary of cancer treatment sounds morose—and it did to me when I was first sent the link—Nick's sense of humor considerably lightens the experience. His blog's tagline:

I don't fight cancer because I fear death. I fight cancer because I fear Mitch Albom writing about me after death.

Get better, Nick. No one else wants to see that happen, either.

Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.

Xeones|10.17.10 @ 3:42PM|

Dude is fighting two good fights. Godspeed, Mr. Cheolas.

Warty|10.17.10 @ 7:28PM|

But fighting threaded comments is a pretty shitty fight, isn't it, you degenerate? Your mom's a whore.

moncler|10.17.10 @ 9:47PM|

moncler jackets definitely understands your need to impress during those cold cover-up months. This season, though, moncler jackets gives you the chance to go with the warmer option while still looking perfectly put together.

x,y|10.17.10 @ 7:16PM|

A fellow Wolverine and libertarian traveler. We are near extinct. Get well soon, Nick.

hmm|10.17.10 @ 7:44PM|

How about them Spartans?

|10.18.10 @ 6:02AM|

There are at least 3 of us. I read a few of his blog entries and his compromised immune system theory of the UM defense has made everything clear -- thanks, Nick.

Carston|10.17.10 @ 7:52PM|

lol, the Seward, I love Arrested Development and I wish Michael Cera would stop being stuck up and agree to the damn movie. for those of you who don't know, here's the Seward dialogue:

Gob: [talking about his new boat] The Seaward.
Michael: You're not getting a boat.
Gob: [doing rock, paper, scissors] One, two, three.
Michael: You're not gonna do it...
[does rock]
Michael: .
Gob: Paper covers rock.
Michael: Fine, but rock sinks boat.
Lucille: [entering room] Michael.
Michael: Just a minute mom.
[to GOB]
Michael: . Get rid of the Seaward.
Lucille: I'll leave when I'm good and ready.

SFG|10.17.10 @ 8:31PM|

BTW, aggressive forms of lymphoma, ironically enough, are the more curable ones. So there may be hope.

The Mossy Spaniard|10.17.10 @ 9:32PM|

Yeah, an aunt and an uncle of mine (both in their 70's) developed aggressive non-Hodgkins and are both in remission now. As trite and corny as it sounds, America needs more people like Nick, and I hope he gets well.

DEA|10.18.10 @ 12:24AM|

Don't worry, we'll be overseeing his pain reliever prescriptions to make sure he doesn't become addicted.

rhea|10.18.10 @ 12:11PM|

Good people always get the other side of the meat, just like this case. While those who have “political” brain cancer stays in the white house.

We help Americans move to Asia for jobs and prosperity. Learn more at http://www.pathtoasia.com

new laptop battery|10.19.10 @ 2:40AM|

Nice post.It's all in the eyes and where they are looking~dfer45yfd

Fist of Etiquette|10.19.10 @ 7:40AM|

HFS, I just got the dude's blog title. I knew the AD reference, but it didn't dawn on me what C word he was talking about. Dense.

Best of luck to Cheolas.

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