My name is Katie, and I’m creating this fundraiser in honor of my dear friend, Nikki (Schill) Armstrong, and her son Jace. Nikki and I grew up together, sharing plenty of wild, unforgettable memories. I became a young mom, and even though life looked different for me, Nikki was always the free spirit—beautiful, independent, hardworking, and building a life she was proud of. Honestly, I never imagined Nikki settling down or having kids.

But life has a way of surprising us. Nikki fell in love, got married, and shortly after called to tell me she was pregnant—with twins. I still remember laughing and saying, “No way!” Soon after, doctors discovered that one of the babies had Anomalous Right Coronary Artery, a heart condition that would require surgery at birth.

On December 22, 2015, Nikki welcomed two beautiful identical boys, Zach and Jace. Both spent over two weeks in the NICU. Jace immediately began seeing a team of cardiologists and spent much of his first year in and out of the hospital. Miraculously, he did not need surgery during that time, and over the years he has continued regular cardiology visits to manage his condition.

Jace has grown into an active, energetic boy who loves football and wrestling. But this past January, he began experiencing chest pain and extreme fatigue during wrestling. Nikki trusted her instincts and took him straight to his cardiologist. After multiple tests—including a stress test and CT scan—doctors confirmed the worst: Jace needs open heart surgery as soon as possible. They warned Nikki that he could go into cardiac arrest at any moment. He had to stop all physical activity immediately.

On Tuesday, March 17th, Jace will undergo open heart surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to repair his right coronary artery. He is expected to spend several days in the ICU and a full week in the hospital. His recovery will take 6–8 weeks, and after three months he will undergo more testing in hopes of being cleared to return to the sports and activities he loves—playing football, wrestling, and running around with his twin brother Zach and all the neighborhood boys.

Through all of this, Jace has remained incredibly positive. He has strong faith, a loving family, and a community cheering him on. Nikki, however, is carrying a heavy emotional and financial burden. She is a single mother, doing everything she can to support her boys. On top of Jace’s medical crisis, she is still grieving the loss of her mother, who passed away just six months ago. Her mom was her rock—and the boys’ rock too.

Nikki never asks for help, even when she desperately needs it. That’s why I’m stepping in. She needs to be by Jace’s side during surgery and recovery, while also caring for Zach. She is the sole provider for her household.

I know so many people love Nikki and her boys and want to help but don’t know how. My hope is that this GoFundMe can ease even a small part of the stress she’s carrying. If you are able to donate—even a few dollars—it would mean the world to Nikki. Your support, prayers, and shares are deeply appreciated.

Thank you for helping me show Nikki and her boys that they are not alone.