Nicholas E. Graham

Please click here to view the Live-Stream of the Service. Services will begin at 1:00pm on Friday, September 18th, 2020.

Nicholas Edward Andrew Graham came into this world surrounded by love on June 22, 2003 at 2:15 P.M. at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.  He was immediately and affectionately called “Nich” by his proud parents, Ronald (Ron) and Gina Gonsalves Graham, as well as other family members.  Because of their special bond, Nich affectionately referred to Ron as “Papa.” From the time he began to walk and talk, Nich’s confident and outgoing personality was a magnet for people from all walks of life, as he would willingly approach strangers, eager to say hello and shake their hands.   As a toddler, Nich was naturally athletic, the ‘life of the party’ and would often talk, dance, and engage family with his attention-getting behavior.  If you were in the room with Nich, you would quickly become aware of his gregarious personality.

Nich attended Highbridge Elementary School in Bowie, Margaret Brent Middle School in New Carrolton, and Fairmont Heights High School, all in the state of Maryland.  Each morning, Nich would rise with excitement and energy as he got ready for school.  At the age of 5, in December 2008, he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative genetic neurological disorder called Sanfilippo Syndrome at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, which was a painful life-altering realization for the family.  In the ensuing 12 years of his short life, Nich’s health condition suffered a noticeable decline year after year, however, his strong, determined, gentle, and optimistic spirit continued to shine through despite the enormous difficulties he faced growing up.  He attended school in-person for as long as he could, eventually becoming quadriplegic and resorting to home-schooling.  In effort to help find a cure to his rare disease, Nich’s parents allowed him to participate in research studies with National Children’s Hospital in Oakland, CA, and Columbus, OH, and Kennedy Krieger Institute. 

As his disease progressed over time, no longer allowing Nich to perform activities of daily living, he endured many invasive tests, procedures, and visits to Washington Children’s Hospital in the District of Columbia, often for extended stays.  The doctors and nursing staff in the hospital, as well as home nursing staff he encountered, came to know and love his personality, even though he could no longer speak.  They frequently commented on Nich’s good-natured spirit as they cared for him during treatments for his debilitating disorder.  Nich, sometimes affectionately called “Bud” by his parents, faced his illness each day with the heroism and resilience of Superman, which was his absolute favorite Superhero from a very early age.  Ron and Gina drew strength from “Bud” and he thrived on the love, strength and commitment shown to him by them each and every day.  He frequently found reasons to smile on his darkest days because of the unconditional love and care that he received from his loving parents.  Nich left an indelible mark on his parents, family, and all those who came to know him. 

After a very long and determined struggle to recover from a serious bout of pneumonia and fight to come home following an extended hospital stay starting in the month of August, Nicholas succumbed to his disorder on September 13, 2020.  He will forever be missed and live on in the hearts and memories of his beloved parents, Ron and Gina, five siblings:  Paul Love (pre-deceased), India Lawal, Alhadj Graham, Nikki Campbell, and Tony Campbell; two loving grandmothers Dorothy Gonsalves (Edward Gonsalves, Sr. – pre-deceased) and Emma Goza (Riley Goza – pre-deceased); six aunts:  Barbara Carroll (pre-deceased), Shirley Starks, Brenda Lenford, Tonya Mitchell (Teforie), Dia Gonsalves, and Christa Gonsalves; four uncles: Keith Graham, Michael Graham (Vivian), Edward Gonsalves, Jr. (Kathleen), Derrick Gonsalves (Tuyet), and a host of other relatives and friends.

http://teamsanfilippo.org/