My name is Nicole, and I am currently facing one of the toughest challenges of my life: cancer. I have been undergoing treatment for some time, and I am almost out of paid leave at work. With four more months of treatment ahead—including three more months of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation, and a necessary trip to Los Angeles in May for a special type of radiation—the road ahead feels overwhelming. I live alone and have some neighbors and friends helping, but I don’t have any family nearby who can help, which makes managing daily life and my health even more difficult.

As my paid leave runs out, I am facing possibly four months of reduced income. I need help to keep up with my bills and to afford help with household chores, like cleaning and errands, that I can’t manage on my own right now. I have been pushing myself to keep working because I’m worried about running out of leave, but the reality is that I need to take more time off to rest and recover. The upcoming radiation treatments will require me to be away from work five days a week for about half a day, and I simply don’t have enough leave to cover that time. This means I’ll be taking leave without pay for a couple of months, which adds financial stress to an already difficult situation.

Any support you can give would mean so much to me during this challenging time. Your help will allow me to focus on healing and getting through treatment without the added worry of bills and daily tasks. Thank you for considering a donation or sharing my story. Your kindness and generosity will make a real difference in my life.