Due to the economic crisis fallout in America about ten years ago, Nicole and her husband both lost their jobs by the summer of 2013. They decided to journey out of Florida with their 13-year-old son, looking for new opportunities to prosper. They liquidated what few possessions they had and eventually landed in NE California.

 

As a supportive wife and mother, Nicole surrendered her "traditional" professional career of 12+ years as Visual Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue to that of a farm worker in New Mexico and California. Instead of returning to Florida, the family decided to continue rural life in remote California. As before, Nicole supplemented lack-luster income by working 6 or 7 days per week using her myriad of creative talents. (Stilt Walking, Costume Designing, Event work, etc.)

 

Nicole's husband left California unexpectedly in 2018, making her sole wage earner for their son and herself. A year later, upon his graduation from a California high school, Nicole was left alone by her son as he returned to SWFL. She gallantly tried to keep her nostrils above the waves of life and escalating bills. She was STUCK. ALONE. BRAVE. DETERMINED to remain positive using her raw talents and sheer guts to overcome her hardships.

 

Nicole eventually landed a job in a school district 45 minutes away. Gas prices in California have been very high, but over the past year, escalating costs forced Nicole to pay $400- $550 net dollars per month just to travel to work and back. She recently had to submit her resignation due to financial hardship.

 

Nicole felt fortunate to get a seasonal job at a local summer camp. During the three-week transition between those jobs and health insurance coverages, Nicole and her beloved canine companion Pepper were mauled by multiple pit bulls on Memorial Day.  Pepper fought to her last breath protecting Nicole from being killed by those dogs.

 

Although needing immediate hospital care and physical therapy, Nicole needed to resume her new work duties at camp. Financially, Nicole is in a real jam. Her numerous injuries are serious. She is trying hard to balance responsibilities to both. Needing to "work for pay" is winning, and it shouldn't. Instead of staying home to heal her wounds properly, and to get physical therapy, Nicole is working insane hours at camp because she needs the money.

 

Unbelievably, last week while Nicole was sleeping, thieves stole her uninsured van from the driveway. She has no money for another vehicle. She has no vehicle to get to work or to the Doctor, to finish up her rabies treatments, to get to the Crisis Center or to go buy groceries. She is reliant on good Samaritans within her rural community...

 

Nicole is ALONE in RURAL CALIFORNIA and is blasted with problems, hardships, and PAIN. She wants to return to SWFL. She is fiercely as self-reliant and independent as possible, but HOW MUCH MORE CAN SOMEONE TAKE and STILL REMAIN SANE???

 

Nicole has been a long time community contributor to Lee County charities.  As co-creator of ZOMBICON, and its NON- PROFIT, she has assisted MANY people in need. Now it's OUR turn to HELP HER. Times are tough for all of us, but they are especially difficult for Nicole. Please help anyway you can. Thank you. 

PS. GoFundMe limits pictures, but there are multiple injuries on her arms, hands and neck. She's having a hard time as her hands and arms are still bandaged up.