On February 7, 2025, we said goodbye to an extraordinary woman, Lisa Jo Nickerson, who bravely fought against diabetes from the tender age of 18 months. Lisa’s journey with Type 1 diabetes was fraught with challenges, including countless emergency room visits for dangerously high blood sugar levels, sometimes exceeding 1500. Tragically, she also faced a rare form of lung cancer related to her condition. Despite the immense struggle, Lisa fought valiantly and triumphed over cancer, though it came at a significant cost—she lost one of her lungs in the process. Just last year, she underwent two below-the-knee amputations. While her surgeon recommended the first, Lisa made the courageous decision to amputate her other leg as well, wanting to be proactive about an infection that had surfaced. She chose to face this difficult path head-on to avoid further complications down the road.

Throughout her trials, Lisa remained a beacon of positivity and strength. She cherished time spent with family, friends, and even strangers, spreading her light and good energy wherever she went. Seven years ago, she found her true partner in Freeman Patterson, who embraced Lisa wholeheartedly. His unwavering support inspired her to confront the challenges posed by diabetes with remarkable resilience, fueled by her profound love for life.

We are now reaching out to our community for help during this incredibly difficult time. We are raising funds to cover Lisa’s funeral and memorial expenses and to support Freeman as he navigates the financial burden left in the wake of her passing. His commitment to Lisa meant he was always there for her, and now, as he faces life without her, we want to ensure he can care for himself and their beloved pets, Maisy, Winter, and Zeus.

We kindly ask for your support in honoring Lisa's memory and assisting Freeman with the expenses that have arisen during this challenging year. Your generosity would mean the world to them both. Thank you for your consideration.