Support Nicole's Battle Against Breast Cancer

My beautiful daughter Nicole, who is 37 years old, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

She requested her first screening mammogram at her yearly checkup and this was the result. She has 3 areas in her right breast, 2 invasive and 1 in the duct. Her only sensible option is to have a bilateral mastectomy, which she will have on December 5th.

The mastectomy is the start to a possibly very long cancer journey. One tumor is close to her chest wall, so they aren’t sure they will be able to remove it completely or get clean margins. They will check her closest lymph node during the surgery for cancer, and if it’s present, they will eventually do further testing to see if it has traveled to other areas in her body. That, along with testing the cancer, will determine if further treatments like chemo, radiation, or further surgery (possibly hysterectomy) are necessary.

Nicole has always been very healthy and has never had surgery before. She will need to take a minimum of 6 weeks off work, to start, with a great possibility of that being extended. She has always worked and been able to manage her finances on her own. During her time off, she will receive some short-term disability, around $300 per week. This amount is significantly lower than her usual weekly income. She is single, has a home, and 2 dogs.

She has already incurred thousands in medical bills and that will continue, especially with the new year close and a new insurance deductible to meet.

Her surgery and follow-up care/treatments will be in Traverse City, an hour and a half away from home. So many trips back and forth already and more to come, plus stays in hotels are an added expense. She needs help and will not ask for it.

Her focus needs to be on getting through this surgery, recovery, and treatments for her cancer, not her finances.

Thank you in advance, and if you can’t donate, please say a prayer or send some kind thoughts to help lift her spirits through this devastating time for her.