<div>*7/30/26 Update: Unfortunately, last night Nikki passed after a year long, difficult battle with cancer. She was 45. She was denied life insurance due to her condition, meaning we need help with her final expenses and bringing her home. 
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<div>I will also be unable to work due to being our daughter Vale's full time caretaker, which will hopefully ease up when she begins school next year. 
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<div>So, for a final time, we're asking for help to tie this together, finish Nikki's story as best we can, and pick up the pieces to try to learn what normal is for the family now. As always, thank you for all of your generous help, shares and words of support. Nikki truly appreciated it as do I.*
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<div>We've hit an emergency. In the summer of last year Nikki's scans came back positive for cancer after five years in remission. By the end of the year she was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, with the cancer spreading to her brain, bones and spleen. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy after an aggressive radiation treatment, but the cancer is incurable. She will be on chemo and suppressive medication for the rest of her life.
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<div>The treatment, as well as the disease, has caused Nikki incredible pain as well as debilitating fatigue and other side effects.
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<div>Our daughter Vale, 4, was diagnosed with level 2 autism and began speech therapy in the summer of '25 and is currently on two waiting lists for continuing therapy but needs constant supervision and care.
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<div>I have had to leave my job to become their caregiver full time for as long as it takes and do not qualify for extended leave. Because of this, we are facing incredible financial hardship-mortgage, groceries, utilities. With my family's care being a 24 hour job there is no possibility that I can work (outside of secondary income sources like freelancing, which even then is a challenge) and we are in danger of losing our home as well as the negative impact this sort of stress has on Nikki's health and Vale's development. It's just an overall terrible situation, made worse by the previous year's financial emergencies from unexpected home damage destroying my savings and credit.
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<div>As much as I hate to do it, especially in today's world where so much is going wrong for so many, I have to ask for help. I am asking for donations to help keep our house and the ability to cover general expenses while I help give my family the care they need in both of their difficult situations. Anything helps to alleviate the stress from outside while we continue to see how Nikki progresses and Vale grows. Even if it's just sharing this Gofundme or through my Discogs/eBay/Substack where I am continuing to list much of my music and personal collection accumulated through four decades in music and the arts.
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<div>I hate to ask for help again, but there is no other choice while we fight many battles on several fronts. Thank you for anything you can do.
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Annette Novak

Jonathan Anderson

robert bruno

John Bukowski

Andrew Magana

constantine neofotistos

deron christman

Dirk Verbeuren

Sharon Faye

Andrew Bonazelli

Anonymous

Stephen Kaczmarek

Dominique Kronk

Megan Gondek

David Wagner

Cara Walton

Matt Knapke

Ian Swartz

Aid for Nikki's Final Expenses and Vale's Care

Aid for Nikki's Final Expenses and Vale's Care

Still $6,410 to go. Help us build momentum.