Support for Nicole (Russell) and Jason Barber

We would like to take this opportunity to share Nicole (Russell) Barber's story that began more than one year ago. We are reaching out to family and friends, asking for your prayers and your generosity to support her and her family during this difficult time.

In 2020, Nicole began experiencing pain in her left knee that, at first, was mildly annoying but quickly became unbearable. After several doctor and hospital visits with conflicting diagnoses, she underwent a biopsy on Christmas Eve, and was told in January of 2021 that she had bone cancer. Further scans found small tumors on her lungs as well.

This was not her first battle with cancer. In 2014, she discovered a lump on her breast. She was initially diagnosed with non-cancerous tumors, but after several lumpectomies which only seemed to cause the tumors to spread, she went to the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion. She was quickly diagnosed with breast cancer, and made the brave decision to undergo a mastectomy and radiation. It was near the five year mark of being cancer-free that her knee pain began and another cancer diagnosis was made.

Nicole started chemotherapy in January of 2021. The hope was that the chemo would shrink the tumor in her knee enough that it could be safely removed in surgery, with little to no chance of the cancer spreading. The pain in her leg soon became overwhelming, and the pain medication she was on did nothing to alleviate it. In February, on the morning of her second chemo appointment, her brittle femur cracked, and she was taken to the Cleveland Clinic, where a rod replaced the broken end of her femur and she received a total knee replacement after the mass was removed. Although not as intense as in the beginning, Nicole continues to struggle with some pain in her leg, which impacts and limits her mobility.

After a pause for healing and physical therapy, she started chemotherapy again in March.

In April, it was decided that she needed to stop chemotherapy again, as the incision in her knee was not healing. She spent a week in the hospital as the doctors worked to stabilize her kidney levels and clean and re-close the incision. Chemotherapy then resumed in May.

In June, Nicole underwent another scan. To her relief, there was no cancer detected in her knee, but the spots on her lungs, while not growing bigger, had not shrunk either. It was decided to try a new type of chemo to see if it would be successful in attacking the lung cancer. Please pray with us that this new treatment will destroy the cancer and Nicole will once again be cancer-free.

Nicole had been employed as a bus driver with the Champion School District, but the cancer, setbacks and treatment have left her unable to work. Jason is now the sole provider for the family, which includes their two sons, Nathan and Andrew. Jason has been a rock for Nicole, supporting her in every possible way, working seven days a week and making sure the house is functioning and the family is well taken care of. He has made the hour plus drive to Cleveland to be with her for doctor visits, hospital stays and chemotherapy appointments, which, over the past six months, has required him to take time off from work.

Please share their story with as many people as possible. Prayers for healing are Nicole and Jason's number one priority right now, but their financial needs are also becoming great due to the ongoing medical expenses. Any donation would be a huge blessing to them at this time. We thank you in advance for your prayers and support for Nicole and her family.