Life has a way of throwing everything at you all at once. My friend Nicholai—a devoted family man and member of the Orthodox community—is facing one of those moments right now, and he needs our help. Just when unexpected expenses hit his family hard, leaving them financially stretched in ways they never anticipated, Nicholai received news no one wants to hear: doctors found a tumor. While it's currently benign, his medical team has been clear that without treatment, it could become cancerous. Even if it stays benign, leaving it alone isn't an option—it will continue to affect his health and quality of life. Nicholai is working with his doctors to handle this with the least invasive approach possible, but treatment still costs money. Money that, through no fault of his own, just isn't there right now. The timing couldn't be worse.

The funds raised through this campaign will go toward the cost of Nicholai's treatment. Anything beyond that will help cover additional medical expenses and support his family as they work to get back on stable ground. Every bit of support helps, and your generosity will make a real difference in Nicholai's journey to recovery.

If you know Nicholai, you know he's not someone who asks for help easily. He's the one usually doing the helping. But right now, he needs us to show up for him the way he's shown up for so many others. No donation is too small. If you can't give, please share this campaign—getting the word out matters just as much. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for any support you can offer. It means more than you know.

You can also find Nicholai on Twitter: @Nicholai_Korea.

And Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nicholai_Korea_2016