Help Claudia Continue to Fight the Good Fight Against Cancer

October 5, 2023, was the day life changed for our wonderful, compassionate, humorous friend, Claudia Nix. On that day, she received a diagnosis of stage 1A grade 3 serous carcinoma of the endometrium. This type of cancer is known for its aggressive nature and frequency of recurrence, posing a significant and frightening road ahead for her.

Claudia's journey has included a full hysterectomy, five grueling cycles of chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Throughout all of these challenges, Claudia has remained grateful for the love and support she has received from her husband, John, and her son, Jack. Not only has her immediate family stood by her side, but also her extended family, co-workers, friends, and even strangers have offered their prayers, kindness, and emotional support. Their compassion has touched Claudia deeply, leaving her feeling humbled and grateful.

As a Type 1 Diabetic for the past 45 years, balancing cancer treatment, recovery, and diabetes maintenance has posed a unique set of challenges for Claudia to overcome. The chemotherapy, unfortunately, worsened her diabetic neuropathy, making it challenging for her to walk steadily and use her hands. This has compounded Claudia’s recovery.

Initially, Claudia had planned to take a brief three-week leave of absence from her job as a special education teacher at a middle school in Naperville, Illinois. However, her recovery became much more complicated, requiring her leave to extend to six months.

To cope with the extended absence, Claudia needed to utilize all available sick time. Despite her weakened state, she was forced to return to work for the remaining four weeks of the 2023-24 school year. Even so, Claudia proudly rocked her chemo scarves and her walker!

Claudia's sense of humor remained intact throughout her journey, uplifting not only her spirits, but also the spirits of all of those around her.

Another challenge the Nix family faced this past year was when Claudia’s husband, John, underwent surgery to remove 12 inches of his colon due to diverticulitis. John’s inability to work during this time created additional strain to the family’s finances.

We are hopeful that Claudia’s prognosis will continue to be positive. To help Claudia regain financial stability as she continues to fight for her health, we kindly ask you to contribute to her GoFundMe account. Any amount, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration.

–With gratitude from Claudia’s Caring Crew

(Anne-Marie Tomek and Debbie Sternecky)