Ken & Colleen’s Kids Radiothon

Nick Bassett
Nick Bassett

UPDATE (5/23/2013): Two months from turning 21, Nick called in to give us an update on his life.


UPDATE (5/24/2012): Nick recently broke his hip and will be in a cast for six weeks. Other than that, he has been doing great!


UPDATE (5/26/2011): Nick also went out for Track this season. He loved it and never missed a meet. Nick was able to go to the State Track meet last this past Saturday and got 3rd Place in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races. It was so much fun to watch him race and everyone was so proud of him. Nick is healthier than he has ever been. We still see our doctors at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital on a yearly basis.

This fall, Nick plans on going to DMACC in Boone for 2 yrs and then transfering to a four year institution. He has always wanted to be in radio or some kind of communications but has started to contemplate being an elementary school teacher after he helped a classroom of Kindergartners at United Comm. school.


Nick was born in 1992. At the age of 20 months, doctors discovered a tumor growing on his spinal cord. Nick had surgery to remove the tumor on May 25, 2001. He was told that there was a very good chance that he’d be paralyzed but after the surgery he was able to move his legs.

On October 30th, 2001, Nick had a second surgery to attempt to correct the scoliosis in his back. That surgery look 13 hours to perform and he was in the Intensive Care Unit for four days. The surgery also put Nick in a full body cast which was eventually removed on May 8th.

Nick is currently going into his senior year of high school and is planning for a future in radio.

From Big Ken, Colleen & Kurt

CMN means one thing to us…helping kids. When a child here at the hospital smiles, it lights up the room, and this Thursday and Friday, we want this hospital to be shining brightly.

We have been doing the radiothon for many years, and it means so much to us that you hear these kids’ stories, you feel the emotions of the parents, and you continue to assist these kids and families.

Helping the CMN directly impacts the quality of life of kids in the hospital, and we thank you so much for your continued support.

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100% your donation will help the kids at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Your donations help fund life-saving research and equipment as well as provide bereavement support for families, fund NICU memorial services and provide toys and games for waiting rooms and teen areas.

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Big Ken & Colleen’s Rockin’ Auction

Thanks to our generous bidders we raised nearly $10,000 through our silent auction! All proceeds go to Big Ken & Colleen’s Kids, supporting local Iowa families through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.