Support Nikki Ranum's Battle Against Brain Cancer

Hi, my name is Ashley Ranum, and I’m creating this fundraiser for my sister-in-law, Nikki Ranum. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Nikki since 2000, when I started dating her brother, Jon. Back then, she was just 12 years old—like the pesky little sister I never knew I needed but would grow to love. In 2009, I officially became her sister-in-law, and over the years, I’ve watched her blossom into a devoted mother, partner, and fighter.

Nikki has three wonderful children: Leanna, a college freshman; Avayah, an 8th grader; and Hendrix, a 3rd grader. She also shares her life with her boyfriend of over 10 years, Marvell and his son Malik. Together, they’ve built a home full of resilience. Nikki’s strength has been tested before—just over 11 years ago, she underwent open brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. She made that incredibly tough experience look almost easy.

But now, life has dealt her a much harder hand.

Over the past few months, Nikki began showing troubling signs: forgetfulness, mixing up names and directions, and even struggling to compose text messages. At first, she thought her phone was broken. We all hoped it was something simple. But as the symptoms worsened, including confusion and difficulty navigating daily life, it became clear something was wrong. My husband Jon would come home and say, “Something’s not right with my sister.”

Finally, Nikki saw her doctor, who ordered a CT scan. Within hours, she received a call that changed everything: “Nikki, go to Mercy Hospital immediately, and bring someone with you.”

The scan revealed two large brain tumors. Mercy Hospital couldn’t treat her and didn’t have a bed available. Nikki was sent home with medication to reduce swelling and instructed to go to Madison if her symptoms worsened. She quickly secured an appointment with Dr. Mustafa Baskaya, a renowned neurosurgeon in Madison whose skills many say are guided by God the next week.

After a few days of waiting in the hospital in Madison, Nikki underwent surgery. By that time, she was losing movement on her right side, and her emotions swung from extreme highs to lows. The surgery was long and grueling, but Dr. Baskaya managed to remove both tumors—something he initially thought wouldn’t be possible.

We celebrated that victory, but our relief was short-lived. A week and a half later, Nikki received the devastating news: she had Grade IV Astrocytoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She is 37 as of last week.

Nikki has begun chemo and radiation treatments, which will continue almost daily for months. Through it all, her attitude has been nothing short of inspiring. Her mantra has been, “We’re good,” even when the challenges ahead are monumental.

Unfortunately, working is no longer an option for Nikki. For years, she has been a dedicated member of the family business, LP Tree Service, but it’s no longer safe for her to continue. While the family business is providing her income, it’s not nearly enough to cover the mounting expenses.

Nikki’s boyfriend, Marvell, has taken time off work to care for her full-time, adding to the financial strain. Between medical bills, groceries, housing costs, gas, and day-to-day expenses—not to mention the emotional toll—this family needs our support.

We’re reaching out to you, our friends, family, and community, to help lighten their burden. Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward:

Medical bills and treatments

Groceries and housing expenses

Transportation costs for appointments

Family activities to lift spirits on tough days

The loss of Marvell’s income as he cares for Nikki

Nikki has shown us what true strength looks like. Now it’s our turn to show her that she doesn’t have to face this fight alone.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for considering a donation. Your generosity will make a world of difference for Nikki and her family as they navigate this incredibly challenging time.

With love and gratitude,

The Ranum Family