We are reaching out today with heavy hearts, but also with an immense amount of hope, love, and determination. Nichelle—my beautiful wife of almost 31 years, an amazing mother, and a loyal friend—was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She is about to face the toughest fight of her life as she begins intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Our journey began in the spring of 1995 in Ketchikan, Alaska. For us, it was truly love at first sight. We were married by September of that same year and moved to Spokane, Washington, to start our lives together. After Nichelle graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1999, we welcomed our two daughters, Emma (now 26) and Anna (now 24). They have always been Nichelle's absolute pride and joy. Nichelle dedicated her early years to being a stay-at-home mom, pouring unconditional love, warmth, and support into raising our girls. As they grew older, her giving nature led her back to school to become a Certified Medical Assistant. She spent 15 years dedicating herself to helping others at Incyte Diagnostics, and continues that vital work today under LabCorp. She has spent her career taking care of patients; now, it’s our turn to take care of her.

Life has thrown its share of challenges our way. In 2023, our youngest daughter, Anna, survived a horrific car accident. Thanks to her incredible resilience, she made a full recovery. Back then, the overwhelming generosity of a community GoFundMe campaign helped carry her through that dark time. Now, the burden of expensive medical visits and mounting treatments is upon us once again. While we both work hard every single day, the financial reality of specialized cancer care is staggering. Our daughters, Emma and Anna, suggested we start this page to help lessen the weight on their mom's shoulders, allowing her to focus 100% of her energy on healing. To put it bluntly: Cancer can suck it!

We know times are tough for everyone right now, and everyday struggles are real. But that reality becomes incredibly heavy when the medical bills start piling up on the counter. We have built an incredible life together, and we are praying these treatments are fully successful so we can spend the next 30 years loving each other and watching our family grow. If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, it will go directly toward Nichelle's medical bills and treatment expenses. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this link with your network. Please keep Nichelle in your thoughts and prayers. Nichelle will be documenting her journey on YouTube, and we will post the link here so you can follow along, receive updates, and walk alongside her as she navigates this. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and kindness. We are going to beat this. With love and gratitude, The Hedemark Family

Here is the link to my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@nichellehedemark?si=ErkdMxCqLSvhzcJ5