Support Nicole’s Parents Through Cancer & Recovery

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to ask for help for my best friend, Nicole, who is facing an unimaginable situation. She recently traveled to Colorado Springs for a visit, but everything changed when her stepdad suffered a terrible fall. He shattered his elbow and hit his head, which led to an ER visit to check for a concussion. What they found instead was devastating—multiple tumors in his brain. Further testing confirmed the worst: Stage 4 lung cancer.

Nicole’s stepdad is currently receiving radiation daily and has already undergone surgery to fix the fracture in his arm. His condition is still serious, and his family is doing everything they can to support him. To make things even harder, Nicole’s mom is also in the middle of her own battle. She recently had a partial mastectomy and will be starting radiation therapy for breast cancer in mid-April.

After everything that’s happened, Nicole has made the difficult but necessary decision to stay in Colorado Springs indefinitely to be with them. This means leaving behind her home in Philadelphia, breaking her lease or finding someone to sublet until July, and figuring out how to rebuild her life in Colorado while being the primary caregiver for her parents.

How You Can Help

This transition is incredibly difficult for Nicole, and the financial strain is overwhelming. She’s asking for help to cover:

Nicole hates having to ask for help, but she wants to be there for her parents without the weight of financial uncertainty making an already difficult situation even harder. Any donation, no matter the size, will make a world of difference.

About Nicole’s Parents

Nicole’s mom is the most selfless person she knows. She will open her home, give the clothes off her back, and do anything she can for the people she loves. She has always put others before herself, never thinking twice about helping someone in need. She’s not just a mother—she’s a sister, a grandmother to six amazing grandchildren, and a loving wife who holds their family together with her kindness and strength.

She has also been a dedicated post office employee, always working hard and serving her community with the same care she gives to her family. Right now, she’s out of work while going through radiation therapy for breast cancer, but even in the middle of this challenge, she remains strong and giving. She is the heart of their family, and her love and resilience inspire everyone who knows her.

Nicole’s stepdad is one of the hardest-working, most caring, and most dedicated people she knows. He is not just a husband to her mom or a father to her 14-year-old stepsister—he is her dad in every way that matters. Even though they aren’t related by blood, he has always treated Nicole with the love and kindness of a true father, something he never had to do, especially since he came into her life when she was already an adult. But he did it anyway, showing her what it really means to be a parent, not because he had to, but because that’s just who he is.

He works tirelessly for the VA and still finds the time and energy to take care of the people he loves. No matter how much he has on his plate, he’s always willing to drop everything to help others, and that kind of selflessness speaks volumes about the kind of man he is. He is strong and resilient, having worked incredibly hard for everything he has and for the people who depend on him. On top of all that, he is absolutely hilarious—his laughter is contagious, and he has a way of making everyone around him smile, even on the hardest days.

Beyond being an incredible father figure to Nicole, he is also a devoted dad to his six other children and a proud grandfather to six amazing grandkids. His love for his family knows no bounds, and Nicole is beyond grateful to have him in her life.

Please Share & Support

If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser with others. Spreading the word means just as much as any contribution, and Nicole truly appreciates any help you can give.

Thank you from the bottom of Nicole’s heart for your kindness and support during this incredibly difficult time.