Most of you know me as Cindy. I am a daughter, sister, wife, mom, friend, and breast cancer survivor.

I also work for the University of Nebraska Lincoln as a cooperative development specialist, bringing together groups to form multi-owner rural businesses, and I teach economics. As if that didn’t keep me busy enough, I am one of four owners of The Lodge Restaurant in Kearney.

The last couple of years have been hard—losing our business location, finding a new one, moving, and then realizing the new spot didn’t make many customers happy. There was even a private Facebook post that was shared out of context.

Then my health decided to take a turn. I started falling in April, which I brushed off as being a klutz. Then came the headaches, worsening neuropathy (did I mention I have had cancer?), back pain, and numbness.

On December 12, I began vomiting blood and ended up in the ER. A CT scan found an indeterminate intrathecal lesion between L2 and L3. An MRI on December 26 confirmed a 12 mm mass that is occluding the spinal canal. The numbness is worsening—I know I have legs, I just cannot feel them—indicating this may be the beginning of nerve damage. I am now facing surgery and pathology to determine if the mass is benign or malignant the week of January 5.

I need a bit of financial assistance. Moving our business and trying to find out what is wrong with my health have drained our savings. While I have amazing insurance through the University, co-pays, lost income, and adjustments to our home may be expensive.

I know I am surrounded by an amazing community. Please help if you can, share, and lift me and my family in your thoughts and prayers.