A Peaceful Passage for Nicole
After a two-years long excruciating war with breast cancer, Nicole’s prognosis has recently turned ominous. Her cancer is terminal, and all she wants is for her children to be taken care of and to have fond memories of life with their mama.
This powerful woman has been a vision of determination, strength, and extraordinary optimism. She’s mustered up more fight than anyone should ever have to, and she’s won many battles... but her body’s journey is inevitably coming to an end.
Last week Nicole lost both of her jobs within 24 hours. This family just went from worrying about ‘how to come up with enough “extra” funds to create some special memories’ to ‘how to keep the lights on and the fridge stocked.’ I assure you, they deserve so much more than the minimum she’s humbly acknowledging. And though Nicole wouldn’t ask for anything herself, she’s given me permission to set up this fund on her family’s behalf.
Here’s Nicole’s story:
My sons are 8 & 9 and I have a 19 year old daughter, a 19 year old step-daughter, and a 10 month old grandson. My husband and I will be married 10 years on October 4th. We have been together since we were 15; he is my best friend. My parents and brothers and grandparents have all passed. All I have left are my three aunts and my husband’s wonderful family. My best friend Tiffany is my sister. She is by my side through everything.
I was diagnosed in 2018 with stage 2B / 3A. They told me I had a cyst in my breast and dismissed it, saying I was too young for a mammogram. Of course I believed the professional. Three months later I went to an OBGYN; they sent me that day for a mammogram and biopsy. I then found out it was a 8cm tumor, and the cancerhad spread to my lymph nodes. I did chemo, had a double mastectomy, and endured 28 rounds of radiation. I thought I beat it. I had a clear PET scan Oct 2019 and decided to get breast reconstruction. The plastic surgeon opened me up for Latissimus Dorsi sugery May 24th 2020; that didn’t go as planned. Soon after, I started having shortness of breath. At my oncologist follow up my numbers were increased, leading to more testing. A CT scan showed stage 4 cancer. By this point it had spread to the lymph nodes from my jaw to my chest and my top lobe of left lung. They began Gemcitabine which did nothing, so we’ve wasted two months and its now in my liver. I started Abraxane and Carboplatin yesterday (Sept 29) and I am praying this prolongs my life. Not to mention my cancer started out as Hormone Positive, and now I am “triple negative,” which is a death sentence. Average life span is two years.
I am terrified to leave my children. I know how deep the pain is from losing both of my parents, and the fact I know I will be leaving them without a Mother kills my soul. I am fighting as hard as I can to be strong and praying these meds can prolong my life a bit longer than the average so they can get old enough to remember their Mommy.
I was let go of both my jobs. My bosses said they could no longer afford to pay me, and being the sole provider for my family, this has come as a devastating blow! I am scared not knowing how I will support my family, keep lights, internet and phones on.
Everyone is telling me “live every day like it’s your last; make memories-with your children...” But how do you do this when youve just lost your income? I don’t expect life to be fair. I just want my children to be okay, and I want to show them how much they mean to me while I’m are here.
They have never been to Disney. They love the beach. And we are honestly so humble anything fun or even a good Christmas would mean the world to them. They are asking for a gaming computer. I’ve been looking for one on LetGo, but no luck yet.
I just wish I didnt have to worry about whats going to happen to my babies while I am gone. I pray God can let them get to at least 15 and 16 so I know they’ll be okay.
-Nicole
My hope for this fundraiser is to buy Nicole some peace of mind, her sons some creature comforts, and her family that beach vacation that they’ve been longing for.
She’s also mentioned that a generous photographer has offered to photograph her for her family to have the images, and she’ll need a dress for the shoot, so maybe this can help with that.
It’s heartbreaking beyond comparison to imagine this beautiful, generous, kind young woman terrified to leave her babies, and not knowing how to take care of them even while she’s here. Please, let’s band together and do what we can to make her less afraid. She deserves to go in peace, knowing that there’s a community of love of support enveloping her children.
