Hi Everyone,

My name is Maddie, and I’m reaching out with my mom’s permission to share what’s been going on and to ask for support during one of the hardest times our family has faced. As many of you know, Nikki has always been a private person, but she also understands how many people love her and how worried everyone has been. This year has been incredibly tough. After months of pain, repeated ER visits, blood transfusions, and numerous tests and procedures, Nikki was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Further testing then revealed a second, unrelated colon cancer, along with several cancer spots in her liver. This has been an overwhelming and challenging journey for her physically, emotionally, and financially. She’s in a lot of pain and exhausted, but she is still the strong, funny, and witty Nikki we all know and love.

Over the past few months, Nikki has been treated at Tucson Medical Center and has endured extensive testing: CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, liver biopsies, bloodwork, and genetic testing. Multiple treatment plans were proposed, including surgeries and chemotherapy, but none provided a clear path forward. Recently, Nikki and her sisters traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix for a second opinion with a team of specialists.

Mayo has decided to begin with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The cancer nodes in Nikki’s liver are growing, and the priority is to stop and shrink those before she undergoes surgery. She will receive two months of chemo and immunotherapy. After those two months, she will have another round of imaging, and the team will determine whether she can move forward with surgery or if more chemo is needed. Nikki will start chemotherapy as soon as possible.

To know Nikki is to love her. She has a way of making people feel seen, heard, and valued. She brings humor, warmth, and a bit of fun wherever she goes, whether through loud music, barefoot walks, or her signature wit and sass. Nikki has navigated challenges before as a single mom raising me and through 25 years of caring for countless families as a mom-baby nurse. When she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 35, she fought bravely and survived. More than 15 years later, she now faces another battle and once again, Nikki will meet it with strength and courage.

How You Can Help

All contributions will support the essential and immediate costs of Nikki’s care, including:

• Medical bills and treatments

• Travel for medical care

• Hotel stays during visits to the Mayo Clinic for appointments, chemo, immunotherapy, and surgery

• Food and caregiving supplies

• Daily needs while she is on medical leave from work

• Other unexpected costs related to long-term treatment

Nikki has been deeply touched by the love you’ve shown her. Every text, card, song, playlist, puzzle, and thoughtful gesture truly lifts her spirits. Thank you for supporting her, loving her, and helping in any way you can. Even sharing this page makes a meaningful difference. Please continue sending her love, strength, and courage as she begins this next phase. We will continue to keep everyone updated as things progress.

With love and appreciation,

Maddie and Family