Please help our Nico and her family

Let me tell you a little about the mystery of Steve. That’s what we have named the golf ball/plum sized/oversized marble tumor currently hanging out on my left ovary. After all, something called Steve, that’s not all too terrifying, right?

Well, to be completely honest, we’re not thrilled. The nature and intentions of Steve are heretofore unknown. Is he a mild mannered nothing or a small murderer? Benign? Cancer? Right now, I am not in pain, only experiencing a mild and disconcerting pressure in my lower left quadrant.

My name is Nico Smith and I’m 37 years old. During a recent routine annual firefighter physical, a protein marker, ominously named “cancer antigen 125” popped up as high. This led to an ultrasound, which led to the discovery of Steve, a “suspicious” tumor on my ovary. After a flurry of sweaty and weepy doctor appointments, it was very quickly determined that I will need to have surgery in a jiffy to remove the ovary and the fallopian tube. The current plan, as I understand it, is that they will cut me open, bag up and cut out Steve, then, while I am still open and under on the table, run Steve downstairs to pathology. If the tumor is malignant (aka cancerous) they’ll likely come back and cut out the rest of my bits, sending me into menopause at the tender age of 37. And then chemo? Radiation? Zoinks. Even if Steve turns out to be nothing, at a minimum, I’ll be out of work for 6-8 weeks. Yes, weeks. I thought the oncologist had misspoken when he said weeks. Days? Sure! Weeks? Oh lawd.

During the 6-8 weeks, I’m not allowed to drive or lift “more than a milk jug.” This is terrible news as all of the five children do, in fact, weigh more than a milk jug. No firefighting. No trampolines. No dramatic pacing in front of a judge as I deliver a poignant and heartfelt closing argument after a three day trial. Walking is okay, hiking is not.

Yes, I know it’s bizarre that I am simultaneously a lawyer, EMT and firefighter. It’s even more bizarre that I will not be able to do these things to support my family for 6-8 weeks. I am solely financially responsible for my son Jasper and help support my four bonus kids and partner. Also, my understanding is that surgery in America is quite expensive, even with the good health insurance I recently acquired.

I currently work full time for DEMA as an EMT in Santa Rosa, part time as lawyer, and part time as a firefighter. The good people of these organizations have offered to create this gofundme to help us as we trudge through the very scary and likely painful next few months. We are extremely grateful for any help we can receive to get us through these challenging and unexpected times.

We’re scared af but also very very stubborn. Thank you for reading this and please feel free to join along as we figure this out.

UPDATE: On July 8th, Nico underwent surgery and had a salpingo oopherectomy to remove the tumor on her ovary. Goodbye Steve! The surgery was successful and tumor was, by the grace of god, found to be benign. Nico began her 6 to 8 weeks of recovery and medical leave from her duties as a firefighter and EMT. Unfortunately, approximately one week after the surgery, Nico’s mother-in-law was hospitalized and non responsive, diagnosed with stage four primary CNS lymphoma. Nico and her family rushed to the East Coast to see her as her condition was very unstable. At this point, Nico’s partner also needed to begin a leave from her job as a nurse in order to care for her mother, leaving both Nico and Carrie-Lynn temporarily out of work. These back-to-back difficulties have devastated the family and they’re struggling to find a financial foothold. They’re grateful for any help that you may wish to provide during this very difficult time.