Quick Family Fund
Donation protected
My name is Kristina, and I am a friend & co-worker of Barbie Quick. Many people have asked me how they can help Barbie and her two girls. Donating through this gofundme page is one of the ways that we can show our love and support for the Quick family. Barbie is among the strongest people I know, and she is not inclined to ask for assistance. So, I’m asking that you keep this wonderful family in your prayers, and please make a donation to help supplement the income that she has lost as a result of her cancer treatments and brain surgery. Please also share this with anyone who knows Barbie or might be interested in helping.
For any who have found this page and aren’t familiar with their situation, please continue reading below…
In 2006, when Barbie was 40, she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she was living in Florida with her loving husband Rick and raising two young daughters, Becca & Krissy. Barbie went through months of radiation, chemotherapy, and, ultimately, had to have a mastectomy. This series of treatments left her cancer-free for 11 months.
The cancer returned in December 2008, this time in her lymph nodes. The next month, they left their extended families in Florida and moved to Richmond, Virginia with Rick’s job. Soon after, Barbie had her lymph nodes removed and was once again cancer-free.
During this time, the Quick family began to love their new lives in Virginia. Rick was working hard as the manager of the Gexpro office in Richmond. Barbie was working part-time at Home Goods. The girls were making new friends. And they also found their new church home at Redeemer Lutheran in Midlothian.
In January 2012, just as she started a new full-time job at Royall & Company, Barbie learned that her cancer had returned. This time in two areas: on the side of her neck (next to the carotid artery) and deep in her armpit. Both are tough areas to treat surgically, so she immediately started chemotherapy. Her doctors struggled to treat her cancer this time, and she endured multiple rounds of chemo trying to find a drug that would work. Even after all the bad news and difficult treatments, Barbie, Rick, and their girls stayed strong and positive.
Then, on July 17, 2013, Barbie received a phone call that would change their whole world. During a golf game/meeting with his work colleagues in Pennsylvania, Rick suffered a massive heart attack and died on the way to the hospital. Barbie and the girls lost their husband, father, best friend, & provider.
Relying on their strong faith, Barbie, Becca, & Krissy were able to continue on. Barbie returned to work, the girls returned to school, and they settled in to a new normal. Unfortunately, Barbie’s many treatments have not been successful and the cancer has spread to her lungs, spine, and brain. In June 2015, she had surgery to remove an egg-sized tumor from her brain and has been out of work on disability since then. And just a couple of weeks ago, Barbie was experiencing some numbness in her arm, and soon learned the cause was a new tumor in her shoulder. She just completed a round of radiation treatment on her arm.
Throughout all of this, the Quick family has remained strong. Barbie still maintains her ever-sunny disposition, taking on all new challenges with unbelievable strength. Becca is currently in 11th grade and Krissy is in 9th grade at Deep Run High School in Short Pump. They are still very active in their church, working the sound board and helping with fundraisers. They are also very involved with Camp Kesem (a camp that supports children whose parents have cancer). Thankfully Barbie’s aunt Judy has been helping during her recovery and treatments. However, missing so much work has put a strain on Barbie financially, and she and the girls could use some help.
As the sole caregiver of two children, Barbie has a lot on her plate, yet she handles every situation with grace, strength, and humor. If you’ve read this far, I hope that you will consider donating, and, at the least, keep Barbie and her girls in your prayers.
Thank you!
Kristina Mickiewicz
[Barbie and me in unplanned matching outfits at work]
For any who have found this page and aren’t familiar with their situation, please continue reading below…
In 2006, when Barbie was 40, she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she was living in Florida with her loving husband Rick and raising two young daughters, Becca & Krissy. Barbie went through months of radiation, chemotherapy, and, ultimately, had to have a mastectomy. This series of treatments left her cancer-free for 11 months.
The cancer returned in December 2008, this time in her lymph nodes. The next month, they left their extended families in Florida and moved to Richmond, Virginia with Rick’s job. Soon after, Barbie had her lymph nodes removed and was once again cancer-free.
During this time, the Quick family began to love their new lives in Virginia. Rick was working hard as the manager of the Gexpro office in Richmond. Barbie was working part-time at Home Goods. The girls were making new friends. And they also found their new church home at Redeemer Lutheran in Midlothian.
In January 2012, just as she started a new full-time job at Royall & Company, Barbie learned that her cancer had returned. This time in two areas: on the side of her neck (next to the carotid artery) and deep in her armpit. Both are tough areas to treat surgically, so she immediately started chemotherapy. Her doctors struggled to treat her cancer this time, and she endured multiple rounds of chemo trying to find a drug that would work. Even after all the bad news and difficult treatments, Barbie, Rick, and their girls stayed strong and positive.
Then, on July 17, 2013, Barbie received a phone call that would change their whole world. During a golf game/meeting with his work colleagues in Pennsylvania, Rick suffered a massive heart attack and died on the way to the hospital. Barbie and the girls lost their husband, father, best friend, & provider.
Relying on their strong faith, Barbie, Becca, & Krissy were able to continue on. Barbie returned to work, the girls returned to school, and they settled in to a new normal. Unfortunately, Barbie’s many treatments have not been successful and the cancer has spread to her lungs, spine, and brain. In June 2015, she had surgery to remove an egg-sized tumor from her brain and has been out of work on disability since then. And just a couple of weeks ago, Barbie was experiencing some numbness in her arm, and soon learned the cause was a new tumor in her shoulder. She just completed a round of radiation treatment on her arm.
Throughout all of this, the Quick family has remained strong. Barbie still maintains her ever-sunny disposition, taking on all new challenges with unbelievable strength. Becca is currently in 11th grade and Krissy is in 9th grade at Deep Run High School in Short Pump. They are still very active in their church, working the sound board and helping with fundraisers. They are also very involved with Camp Kesem (a camp that supports children whose parents have cancer). Thankfully Barbie’s aunt Judy has been helping during her recovery and treatments. However, missing so much work has put a strain on Barbie financially, and she and the girls could use some help.
As the sole caregiver of two children, Barbie has a lot on her plate, yet she handles every situation with grace, strength, and humor. If you’ve read this far, I hope that you will consider donating, and, at the least, keep Barbie and her girls in your prayers.
Thank you!
Kristina Mickiewicz
[Barbie and me in unplanned matching outfits at work]
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristina Alfonte Mickiewicz
Organizer
Laurel, VA
Barbie Quick
Beneficiary