In support of Noelle’s fight: cancer 2.0

Many of you know my dear lifelong friend Noelle's story and all that she’s overcome the past decade beginning in the winter of 2015, when she was first diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer and a year later, Stage 1 lung cancer. She had to go through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries and targeted drug therapies during those years and has fiercely advocated for her health, and maintained her will to live with love and purpose since then.

In 2021 she set out to fulfill her longtime dream of becoming a nurse. Driven by her desire to help others in the way that she had been cared for while fighting cancers, she completed her prerequisite studies and was accepted into MCTC’s registered nursing program with a 4.0 GPA this past spring. She is currently in her 2nd semester of the program with two more to go and is on track to graduate May of ’26.

In November 2024 during a routine scan, Noelle received heartbreaking news that her cancer had returned and it was in her lymph nodes, more specifically the axilla nodes near her original breast cancer. Noelle was diagnosed with regional/local recurrent metastatic breast cancer. This news was especially heavy for Noelle and her loved ones as there were already two devastating battles with cancers underway in her immediate family.

Her prognosis is good, but she is facing a long hard fight once again. It started already, in December with surgery; a full dissection of her axillary lymph nodes. Tomorrow, January 29th, she will undergo another surgery to have an infusion port placed in her chest, and then starting in February Noelle will undergo yet again five months of aggressive chemotherapy, followed by a year of additional targeted drug and hormone therapy. Noelle will also receive proton therapy at the Mayo Clinic as an adjuvant treatment to chemo.  

Making this season of life even more difficult, on the morning of January 16th, 2025 Noelle lost one of her biggest supporters, one of the biggest loves of her life, her dad, Tim Sullivan, after he himself fought a short battle with cancer. She spent precious time with him in his final days, traveling back and forth to her true home- Madeline Island.

During this time she will be able to work very little, if at all, and the financial strain of medical costs, school expenses, and daily needs will be overwhelming. Our goal is for Noelle to be relieved of the financial strain so that her main focus can be her health and school. We’re asking for your help because Noelle would never ask for financial assistance herself, and needs this now more than ever with so much on her plate.

Noelle remains intently focused on her nursing education, wellness & sobriety, and her essential roles as a present & loving mother to Julian, committed partner to Matt and supportive sister. As a testament to his unfortunate familiarity with fights against cancer and the strength he sees in his mom, Julian refers to this diagnosis as “Guerilla Warfare.”

The funds raised will help to cover basic living expenses during this incredibly difficult year as well as some additional modalities not covered by insurance that we’re hoping to supplement Noelle’s cancer care plan with such as cold cap therapy and additional treatment by a functional medicine provider.

Again the goal is for us to ease the financial burden so that Noelle can focus on her whole health, being there for her son and family, and completing her nursing studies.

If you are able to contribute by donating any amount, sharing her story or with prayers, intentions and words of encouragement we would be so grateful and it will be immensely appreciated.

Let’s surround Noelle with the love and support she deserves, and together, help alleviate some of the stress of this challenging time.