Triple Negative, EXTRA Positive! Together We Can!

Hi Friends,

Thanks for stopping by this page and taking the time to read about Nicki's journey and supporting her fight against Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

I ASK THAT YOU HELP ME RALLY TOGETHER for Nicki, Simon, Poppy, and William. I am calling to you for help. Help us take just ONE stress off their plate by raising enough money to cover the Health Care Deductible for 2023 and 2024. Please help us take this stress away so they can focus on the FIGHT!

Cancer is unfair. It does not discriminate. It does not care if you are a loving mother, a cheeky sister, a wonderful daughter, a kind friend, an amazing designer, an avid creator, a consistently health-conscious person, or a supportive wife. It just doesn't care that you still have life to live.

Nicki's story starts in 2023 when she discovered a lump which closely resembled a cyst that was found earlier in the year. As luck would have it, the universe kept sending her memos that she was due for her annual Mammogram (INSERT AD HERE: GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM LADIES!). The Mammogram showed some irregularities which quickly led to an ultrasound. The ultrasound quickly led to a biopsy which brings us to September 6th, 2023...the day that Nicki was told she had cancer.

Fast forward after many moments of fear and unknowns, she has completed an MRI and testing and met with a surgeon. The cancer is "Invasive Ductal Carcinoma" Grade 3, Stage 1B, Triple Negative. The tricky part is the triple negative which means the more advanced target treatments will not work so we are headed into this using the BIG GUNS including broader Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Surgery and possibly Radiation!

Nicki has stepped into this challenge with absolute courage and without a doubt will kick cancer back to the hell it came from.

As her friend, and as someone who has traversed the cancer world with my youngest son, my heart breaks knowing some of the challenges she has ahead: from all of the ups and downs of treatments, the anxiety of test results, the side effects of chemo, the surgeries, the fear of how to afford these treatments, and how to hold on to hope.

We are lucky to live in America where we have access to amazing hospitals like The Stephanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center at the OSU James Cancer Hospital where Nicki will be spending many hours and days during her journey, where she will be having the fight of her life.

Nicki & Simon are so fortunate to have a very wide reach of friends and family who love them, support them, and want to do something to help. Please only help if you feel that you can. This fundraiser is a tangible way to make a difference to help the family rather than the more traditional gifts such as flowers or balloons.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support in helping the Van Weerdenburg's Beat Cancer!

Yours truly, in kindness and hope,

Dawn Baker