Support Nicole Kicking Neuroblastoma Cancer

"FALL RISK”

That was the words on our then 11-year-old daughter’s yellow wristband as she lay in her hospital bed almost a year ago. Our sweet athletic girl who loves life, school, her friends, all animals, and Karate was confined to a bed. It would be days before we would know if the damage caused by her condition would be permanent. Seeing her graduate from a wheelchair to a walker was like watching her learn to take her first steps all over again.

Fast forward to today, she is thriving and happy, and she is WALKING, RUNNING, and KARATE-KICKING her way through life.

In January 2023, Nicole was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a very rare childhood cancer. The tumor genetics revealed it to be a slow growing tumor that supposedly developed years in advance. Having gone undetected for so long, the tumor had grown around her spinal cord and down her rib. With her recent rapid growth spurt the tumor compressed her spinal cord rendering her unable to walk leading to an emergency neurosurgery. It would be hours in the emergency room before we would discover this ourselves, and our lives have never been the same.

This has been a nightmare for us all, but we have also experienced the greatest amount of LOVE through this experience. As soon as our daughter’s school was informed of Nicole’s condition, they held a school wide prayer that all the students, as well as parents attended. A neighboring church's youth group handmade cards, as well as Nicole's classmates, writing words of well wishes and encouragement. Our church made a gift basket, gifting Nicole the Bible that she carries with her now as we travel to receive medical treatment. Our pastor came to visit in the hospital and gave us this verse that has become our family's life verse, Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you”. We have no words to describe the love we felt wash over our family because of these acts of KINDNESS.

While Nicole was undergoing her emergency neurosurgery, a staff member from the neurosurgical team came to give us an update on Nicole’s progress, as well as inform us that Nicole had asked her medical team to pray with her before she was put under. Receiving that message reminded us that God is working through Nicole. And even in our darkest days, He uses our troubles to help others and draw us closer to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. (Thank you, Rachael, for going above and beyond to help Nicole.)

Nicole’s Karate Family made her a get-well poster board. One of her instructors wrote “The set back is the platform for the Comeback”, and that is exactly what Nicole has done with this “set back”. She started physical therapy as soon as possible after her tumor removal, attended Karate camp over the summer, and belted up. She is now one more training cycle away from achieving her goal of earning her black belt. At the beginning of her recovery, we saw Nicole struggling to perform karate forms she was able to do just months earlier with ease. Witnessing her perseverance through this journey and her drive to accomplish her goals IS inspiring!

We are so proud of how strong BOTH of our girls have been through this journey!

Nicole’s Neuroblastoma is back and has mutated, she is now categorized as High-Risk.

There is an out-of-state therapy that offers a treatment plan that we believe is best for Nicole. This therapy is not covered by insurance. The treatment costs will be $20,000 a month for a proposed 8-months. We will also have the expenses of travel back and forth throughout this 8-month time period.

We are reaching out for help to raise the funds needed for treatment for Nicole.

Any amount given is GREATLY appreciated!

Please share our story.

Prayer warriors, please raise our family up in prayer.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, kindness, prayers and support!