Honor Sarah's life and help her family.

"True friends are like bright sunflowers that never fade away, even over distance and time." - Marie Williams Johnston. Hello, my name is Nichole and I created this fundraiser in honor of my dear friend, Sarah. Her favorite flowers were sunflowers, and never was there a better flower to represent her as a person.

Sarah was one of the first people that I met when we moved to a new town, far from any family and familiarities. She was my table leader at a mother's group and I'll never forget how kind she was to me that day. Our friendship grew over the year and it wasn't long until she was having me over for coffee to chat about homeschooling. Her convictions and belief in what she was doing encouraged and bolstered me to move into my own journey with homeschooling. We liked to joke that she convinced me to homeschool, and I kept her homeschooling when I found Wild + Free.

It wasn't long after the birth of her and her husband's, Jon, third child that tragedy struck them. Sarah was diagnosed with late stage inflammatory breast cancer. The news was devastating. The outlook was dark and her survival beyond that first year after diagnosis, was grim. At least, according to statistics. But my friend shattered all of those statistics and she did it with a glowing smile on her face. The road she walked, surrounded by friends and family, was a long and hard one. Not once did she falter in her faith and not once did she turn her face from the sun.

Life may have moved them far away from where I live but it didn't stop our friendship. We traveled to a Wild + Free conference together in Portland, to Franklin, and to Frisco, where I'll never forget watching Elsie Iudicello pray with her, or Jen Naraki talking with her. Her battle waged on and she was still beating the odds. Two years ago it seemed as though the cancer was winning and I had the beautiful honor of visiting her one last time, where we shared sushi, coffee, tears, smiles, hugs, and goodbyes. And yet, Sarah beat the odds once again and survived beyond that scare, for another nearly two years!

Throughout Sarah's journey she was surrounded by family, friends, and prayer warriors from all over. They shared encouragement with her and stayed updated on her progress through Facebook group that's been active for the past four years.

This past week, Sarah's battle came to an end. She is no longer suffering and she's healed!

Sarah leaves behind her beloved husband, Jon, and their three beautiful children. She is also survived by her parents and sibling, and Jon's parents and siblings.

Sarah leaves behind a legacy of love, perseverance, and an unwavering faith. Because I knew her, my life has absolutely been changed for good.

Will you join me and help support Jon and the children as the move forward with healthcare, funeral, and future living expenses? These funds will be used to help Jon and the children with traveling between home (in Canada) and to the southern United States to visit family.

Let's honor Sarah's life by easing her family's financial burdens, both now and those to come.

Thank you, friends. ~Nichole

"It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend" - For Good The Wicked Musical