He fought for 6 and a half years. Constantly doing treatments. He would get a break for a little while but then the cancer was back. It spread into his bones where he could no longer cheer at with his High School Cheer Team Tahquitz CoEd Cheer. With everything that was thrown his way, he kept positive and would overcome it. He lead by example. So much love, bravery and a huge smile all the time. He didn’t let cancer stop him! It impacted all of us because we knew he had terminal cancer, but we all followed Preston’s positive attitude, he fought hard and taught us all how to live life to the fullest and to be the best version of yourself! That’s what he lived by.

He’s is a shining star in everything he did. He made a huge impact with everyone he met and they in return made an impact in his life too. Preston had a lot of dreams and hopes. He wanted to go to college to become an RN then further his medical education by becoming a doctor so he could work with children in oncology or as a general doctor working with kids and young adults. He said he could relate to what they are going through and he wanted to help in anyway he could. He wanted to pursue his medical education by going to college where he could also be a part of a coed cheer team! His dream was to go to college in Utah at Weber University and joining the cheer team or joining the cheer team at the University of Washington. Both of those cheer teams loved Preston and gave him a dream come true by making him an Honorary Cheerleader. He was so honored and humbled by being apart of their teams. He had so much love for everyone he met! 

He loved music. He recorded 3 songs with a family friend at a recording studio in LA called Black and Gold Record of who we came close to during that time. His friend Learsi at the recording studio wrote a song just for him called “Fallen Star”.  That title is on his Headstone because that’s who Preston is to us our “Fallen Star “. He also sang a cover song of Blake Shelton’s called “Lonely Tonight” with our family friend Arely C.  Blake Shelton heard about the song they did and Blake sent Preston a personal video message of how amazing he did and that if Preston would have tried out for THE VOICE he would have turned his chair for him.  Preston was always full of life, dancing, singing, making jokes.  

Preston and his big brother Chandler were on the Tahquitz cheer team in high school and he loved it. During covid he learned to play the guitar and piano because he was also doing chemo treatments at that time. So he found a way to deal with the situation with music. We tried to keep Preston stable enough to start new clinical trial called Elimusertib on March 7th 2022 that was approved for DSRCT at CHLA. But with all the efforts from the doctors and nurses there was nothing more they could do. Preston’s wish was to come home from a long battle of cancer to live the rest of his remaining life in the comfort of his home surrounded by his Dad, his big brother and his little sister and friends. Preston, came home on Friday March 11th 2022. 

On the next day, Tahquitz High School and his Tahquitz Cheer team, classmates, family, friends, and many members of the Hemet community (The Mayor of Hemet, The Fire department, The police department, and the media) came together to celebrate Preston with an honorary graduation from High School. Our dear friend Michael Rosenbaum catered the wonderful event. His cheer coach Sarah Peterson presented him with his cap and gown. It was a wonderful day and a dream come true for Preston to graduate. He had so many loved ones there to celebrate his special day! It’s a day we will always cherish. 

On April 22nd 2022, 6 weeks after we brought Preston home, he suffered greatly as he struggled to take his last breath saying to me “momma, I can’t breathe.” All I could do was hold him and tell him how much I love him. A few minutes later his heart stopped beating for the last time at 9:40 am on 4/22/22. With his Dad Kris and his big brother Chandler and his mom Michelle by his side holding him ever so gently but with so much love. We were surrounded with all of his family and friends the night before staying with Preston letting him know how much he is loved. 

I will never forget the way my son lived and loved everyone! I’ll always remember every single day the son he is and the amazing soul he has, he shined so bright in everything he was and did during his short life. But I will never forget what he went through and how he died! He suffered greatly, no child should ever have to suffer from cancer. I will forever tell my son’s story to help raise awareness for childhood cancer. 

– Michelle Nijst, mother