Hi everyone!!

I've been trying to keep everyone out of the loop because in honest truth I didn't want anyone to worry bout me because I'll be fine, however, its a struggle that I need to ask for help.

Back in March this year when everyone was getting used to the fact that their work was getting shut down due to covid (mine was shut down as well), a couple weeks after the shut down I found out I have brain cancer. My tumor is called Astrocytoma. Its a stage two and grows slowly (thank god) so I am hopeful that I will conquer it. It was a huge shock to me and my family as it has been my worse nightmare ever. And my moms worst nightmare too. I didn't even like to use the "C" word. Those the know me know about my childhood and everything that I went through with my dad who died of cancer at the age of 38.

Fast forward a little bit to getting used to figuring out what to do. Getting it removed and figuring out treatment. I FOUGHT with my insurance company to get me into UCI which I won. I'm thanking my lucky stars that I got in to an amazing hospital with doctors who specialize in brain cancer. I have had TWO BRAIN SURGERIES. The final one was pretty major where they cut me from ear to ear and I now have metal plates in my head. They took out about 60% of the cancer and only left the "legs" of the tumor. They couldn't get it all out because the part that they left was too risky to remove it. Reason being is that had they cut too close to my brain it would've messed with my speech and also comprehending conversation. So, with that being said we decided to go with treatment to zap the rest of it.

The past 5 weeks I have been going to radiation every single day Monday-Friday. I only have three days left!! I've lost a lot of hair and just decided to shave my head because my hair follicles were so incredibly sore. The best way I can describe the feeling is having your hair in a pony tail all day and then letting it down when you get home. That painful feeling you have is what I had all over my head all day at all times!

After radiation I'll be starting chemo Its going to be oral chemo. So not as invasive as IV chemo, but its still chemo. I'll be taking it 5 days straight every 28 day cycle. I can't help but think of what my grandmother went through all her years of cancer and my dad too. They struggled so badly and I never knew until I got brain cancer.
Theres so much more to the story that I haven't post but this is the gist of it.

Medi-Cal is amazing, but it doesn't cover all my medical needs. I went to a doctor yesterday that was not covered but I so badly need to get treated there as well. If you have any ideas for fundraising please let me know. I bake amazing cakes and make chocolates!!! My friend Alisha and I will make planters out of wooden pallets!!! If you just want to donate to help the cause I have a couple avenues to donate.

Venmo= @nicky-hackman
Cash app= NickyHacky
Apple pay= Nicky Hackman or my phone number

I love you all and want to wish you guys the best and I hope everyone has been safe during all this

And those worried about Tegan, he's great! He loves my haircut.

Yours truly, 

Nicky Hackman