UPDATE:

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared, and sent kind words—we truly can’t express how much it means.

Right now, my best friend is still in the hospital. It’s been a really tough time. The doctors are still trying to figure out exactly what’s wrong, and we haven’t gotten the answers we were hoping for yet. They’ve been running tests, doing scans, and checking for everything they can think of, but it’s a complicated situation. Watching someone you love go through this without knowing the cause has been heartbreaking.

The funds we’re raising are helping cover ongoing medical expenses, hospital stays, and the tests that are (unfortunately) piling up. Every bit helps, even just sharing this page with others.

We’re holding onto hope and doing everything we can to support them during this scary time. I’ll keep everyone posted with updates as we get more information.

Thank you for your continued support—it means the world.

Original:

Hello, I’m Krystal Laudicina, and I’m reaching out because my best friend, Nicole McDowell, needs our help.

Nicole has faced a lifetime of challenges, enduring numerous procedures and open-heart surgeries since she was born. Recently, she found herself in the ER, in pain, only to discover that her heart requires more specialized care than what’s available in Sarasota. She has since been transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, but the road ahead is still uncertain.

Unfortunately, at either hospital, her insurance won’t cover the costs of a heart transplant—or even the evaluation to determine if she needs one, though many doctors and health signs are pointing in that direction. Nicole has a long and difficult journey ahead, which may have her transferring care again to possibly the Mayo Clinic in Rochester or Shands in Gainesville.

Nicole is not able to work during this time. Her family is doing everything they can to raise funds, so they can be by her side during this crucial time and support her through the decisions that lie ahead. Her mom is having to fund a place to stay and food for herself in order to be with her daughter through this journey.

I’m asking for your support because Nicole is one of the most selfless people I know. She gives back to the community at every opportunity. We met in community college, and since then, we’ve laughed, cried, and loved through everything together. Nicole has grown into a beautiful leader through the Kiwanis family and has always had a deep passion for helping children.

There are so many unknowns in this journey, and while we don’t know what the future holds, we remain hopeful that Nicole will be back doing what she loves soon. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help more than you can imagine.

Thank you for your kindness and support.