Hi, my name is Brenda Thomas, and I'm reaching out on behalf of my childhood best friend, Nicole McBride. Nicole would never ask for help herself, but her mom, Cheryl Fry, and I are starting this fundraiser to help with the overwhelming medical costs and bills she's facing.

On December 14, 2024, my world was shattered when Nicole told me that she had cancer. The shock was immense; Nicole has always been vibrant, healthy, and constantly on the go.

She began chemotherapy in January 2025 and truly tackled it like a rockstar. Despite enduring rounds of chemo every other week for three months and the severe sickness it caused, she barely missed a beat. She continued to show up for her children, their activities, and worked almost every day. She persevered through numerous days in a row without eating, barely able to drink.

After chemo, Nicole had a much-needed break before her surgery on June 2nd to remove the cancer. What was expected to be a 3-5 day hospital stay turned into a much longer and more complicated journey. Unfortunately, complications arose, leading to another surgery just a week later. Again, she was told she'd be out in 3-5 days, but persistent issues have kept her hospitalized.

As of today, Nicole has been in the hospital for 38 days. She's currently awaiting another planned surgery in about two weeks, hoping for a 3-5 day recovery afterward. This means she'll have been in the hospital for roughly 53 days by the time she gets home.

To make matters even more challenging, about a week ago, her insurance denied further hospital coverage. Her doctor is appealing, and we're praying for approval. The average cost of a single day in a hospital in Iowa is around $1,800 with insurance and $8,500 without, not including surgeries or doctor fees.

And today she found out that she may be facing three more months of chemo because one of the seventeen lymph nodes they removed during surgery came back cancerous.

Nicole's husband, Jef, has not been able to work, dedicating all his time to being by her side. This entire ordeal has been physically and emotionally draining for both of them.

Nicole is a truly amazing person. She's always the first to lend a helping hand to friends and family, and now she desperately needs one in return.

If you're able to donate, any amount would be a tremendous help. If not, please consider sending your prayers and sharing her story. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for taking the time to read this.