Support for Nicole Keller

Nicole - a vibrant and loving 15 year old - was officially diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, an incredibly rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, on September 14, 2022. After undergoing a very long and intensive treatment plan, which included limb-salvage surgery, 95 nights in the hospital for IV chemo treatment, and a ton of physical therapy, Nicole became cancer free and went into remission.

After just a couple of months, Nicole began to experience growing back pain, which led them back to the hospital for scans on August 28, 2023. The doctors found that the cancer had come back with vengeance. She was diagnosed with recurrent, metastatic osteosarcoma, with findings of a collapsed vertebrae, several additional spots on her spine, one on her hip, and one on an upper rib. Nicole started an oral chemo (Cabozantinib) on August 30.

On October 13, 2023, follow up scans showed that the Cabozantinib hadn’t worked like they had hoped. The cancer had spread even more, with new spots of disease throughout Nicole’s entire spine, and to three new spots in her lungs. Fortunately, Nicole's Mimi (grandma), Vicki Cull, lives locally and can stay with Natalie while MacKenzie is at the hospital with Nicole.

The Keller family is so very grateful for the people who have reached out and have offered support. While insurance will cover many of the expensive medical costs required to treat this awful disease, there are untold amounts of out-of-pocket costs. We are thankful that MacKenzie will be able to use sick leave to cover some of this time, but only a portion of it, so these donations will help MacKenzie care for Nicole. Their family would also like to take one last vacation together to Hawaii to spend precious time together. That being said, any unused funds will be donated to Jacob’s Heart or to another deserving family who is battling this awful disease.

If you would like to follow along or learn more about Nicole’s journey, you may do so here.