Thank you for visiting! If you are here, you are likely one of the many people touched by one Nicole Quinn. We love her for her wit, joy, empathy and generosity, that sparkle in her eye, her verve. It’s little wonder she has an army of friends: she is so loved and cherished!

Nicole has kept this same bright spirit through the toughest of times these last seven years, through her mother’s battle with terminal breast cancer and now her own. She’s an expert at rolling with the punches and finding gratitude in the ups between the downs. She’s turned even the most bitter of lemons into lemonade— using her unending chemo infusions as an opportunity to connect with friends when they can accompany her and stand in for her own treasured mother, who passed away in 2018. She has created moments of joy out of the darkest.

She leans to laughter and fortitude so much, in fact, that it can be hard to grasp what she shoulders. Her rare, inflammatory breast cancer from 2017 returned in 2020 as Stage IV triple negative breast cancer, aggressive and tough to treat. She has cycled through at least four chemo drugs to keep the cancer out of her organs; it has since concentrated in her bones, giving her time to try different therapies.

But incurable cancer takes its toll, as does living in limbo until the next scan, i.e. Scanxiety. Nicole can no longer work due to debilitating bone pain and chemo side effects, ranging from nausea to a near-constant state of extreme fatigue. She rallies to be around others but pays for it for days. Numerous hospitalizations, a mastectomy, spinal surgery, blood clots, diverticulosis, lymphedema, radiation— these have become par for the course for Nicole, things to take in stride. But five fractures in her spine are testing her limits, requiring morphine to blunt the pain.

If this were not enough, Nicole has exhausted her savings and receives about $500 short of her monthly living expenses—the bare necessities—from social security disability under a Compassionate Allowance clause.

In the words of her oncologist, now is the time for Nicole to do the things she has wanted, yet there isn't enough money to pay the bills. This GoFundMe, a financial last resort, aims to help cover the foreseeable future, or about two years by:

- Eliminating the monthly stress of making rent and having enough to eat, and helping her keep her independence with food / grocery deliveries when needed. ($500/month for 2 years)

- Providing a rainy day cushion for life’s curveballs: Nicole’s landlord is selling her home, and she will need roughly two months’ rent and funds to move; future car repairs; gaps in Medicare coverage for prescriptions; etc. ($7,000/year for 2 years)

- Helping Nicole as she “tries to thrive and make every day count,” in her words. It is paramount to her to enjoy the time she has and spend it with others. Dinner with friends and much-needed get-togethers, the rare weekend away, travel if her health allows…these are what keep her going despite it all. ($7,000/year for 2 years)

- Beginning to cover home health care costs as she continues to become less mobile. Many, but not all, people with metastatic bone disease lose some independence, such as walking or driving, per multiple cancer sites. Medicare doesn’t pay for an aide to help with daily activities (like personal care), which can start at around $4,000/month for part-time help. ($4,000/month for 5 months)

Lastly, if you are wondering who are Nicole’s people to to lean on, look no further! We are her family; there is no other safety net. She is the definition of independence, shouldering finances, procedures and chemo largely on her own, but no one does this journey alone.

Nicole has been lifted by the outpouring of love and support all these years, and now this financial help is a crucial way to show we still stand with her, all the way.

Thank you for your consideration, and as you count the blessings of health, financial security, family or friends in your own life, please keep our beloved Nicole at the top of the list. ❤️

P.S. You can add a message of support after donating by going to the “Donations You’ve Made” tab under your account.

Please note if you’d like your donation to be used for something specifically, and it will be honored!