7 days ago
TV anchor heartbroken as firefighter husband, 42, dies just years after devastating diagnosis
A Chicago television news anchor is mourning the loss of her firefighter husband after following a grueling and courageous battle with stage 4 brain cancer.
Diane Pathieu, who broadcasts for ABC 7, revealed how her spouse Nicholas Adamski passed away last week at the age of 42.
Adamski died after attempting to fight the cancer for four years having been diagnosed shortly before Christmas in 2020, after suffering a seizure that left him collapsed and unconscious.
Adamski always faced long odds but managed to live years beyond his initial glioblastoma prognosis, refusing to surrender even as the disease ravaged his body.
In a raw and emotional tribute posted on Instagram, Pathieu shared a black-and-white photo of her husband.
'My angel, Nicholas 'Nick' Adamski, has gained his wings. He was surrounded by love and peace. Firefighter. Husband. Advocate. Hero.
'Nick faced stage 4 glioblastoma brain cancer with unmatched courage, grace, and an unshakable belief in PMA - Positive Mental Attitude.
'He was a man who served others, uplifted everyone he met, and never stopped smiling - even through the hardest days. Forever in our hearts. I love you for always sweetheart. Keep that PMA. Love hard. Help others. And never, ever give up, and as Nick would say, "peace and veggie grease."'
The comment section beneath the post quickly flooded with condolences, words of support from friends, colleagues, and complete strangers, many of whom had never met Nick personally.
Before illness struck, Adamski had been a Milwaukee firefighter. He was hailed a hero after he once rushed into a burning building to save an infant, an act of courage for which he received the Medal of Valor - the highest honor a firefighter can earn.
His selflessness was legendary among his peers and remained unshaken even after his diagnosis.
According to ABC 7, Adamski first realized something was wrong when he suffered a seizure in December 2020, collapsing without warning.
'The only thing I remember is my right leg going up and shaking everything,' Adamski recounted. 'After that, I couldn't tell you anything.'
Doctors at Lutheran General Hospital delivered the devastating news that he had stage 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer.
Even with aggressive treatment, the prognosis was grim with patients typically given about a year to live.
But Adamski refused to let a number define his future. His battle cry became three simple letters: PMA - Positive Mental Attitude.
A memorial service was held for Nicholas 'Nick' Adamski on Saturday afternoon
Adamski stepped into the public eye and attempted to use his diagnosis as a platform to inspire others.
He and his wife Pathieu became vocal advocates for brain cancer awareness.
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) paid tribute to Adamski in a statement that echoed the depth of feeling over the loss of Adamski's.
'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Nicholas 'Nick' Adamski, beloved husband of ABC7 Chicago's Diane Pathieu,' the organization wrote. '
A devoted firefighter, fierce advocate, and GBM warrior, Nick faced grade 4 glioblastoma with extraordinary courage, grace, and his signature PMA - Positive Mental Attitude.
'Through every challenge, Nick never stopped smiling. He served others, inspired hope, and uplifted everyone around him. His legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him - and in the countless lives he touched.'
In his final days, Adamski entered hospice care, surrounded by love and by those he had spent his life protecting.
Pathieu announced she would be stepping away from social media to spend his remaining time by his side.
ABC 7 Chicago issued its own statement of condolence: 'Nick's life was defined by service, strength, and a deep compassion for others. As a member of the Milwaukee Fire Department, he earned the Medal of Valor for saving an infant from a fire. Not only did Nick fight that vicious disease with bravery, but he also inspired others.
'He became a public voice for hope with his signature message of PMA: Positive Mental Attitude. As Diane says, Nick never judged and never complained. He simply loved.'
Those who knew Adamski personally speak of a man who remained kind, selfless, and hopeful even as the disease eroded his physical strength.
He never wavered in his resolve to 'love hard, help others, and never, ever give up' - a mantra that Pathieu vowed in her post to carry on.
