Donate to Help a Nurse in Need

First, I would just like to thank you for taking the time to read this story, that is only a glimpse of what has transpired over the last few years in the life of one of the most beautiful souls many have ever met.

My name is Cassie Skidmore, and I've been honored to be a friend alongside a truly amazing and inspirational woman for the last 24 years, whom we all know as Takia. If you've ever met Takia, you know that she is a hard worker both as a nurse and as a college student, a deeply compassionate, caring, kind, loving, “mother hen” type and always a strong and independent person. Since becoming an adult, Takia has always been able to stand on her own, no matter what life brought her way. Her health was never a serious issue which allowed her to work as many shifts as she wanted or needed to make a comfortable living for herself.

During a very challenging time in her life, in April 2016 she lost her sister and shortly thereafter in August 2016, Takia lost her sister in law/best friend and gained temporary guardianship of her (then)12 year old niece. She graduated from Hagerstown Community College in May 2018 with her Associates of Arts and in May 2019 she achieved her LPN degree with a goal to return to school to become an RN. For years while gaining much experience working as a nurse in a prison, hospitals, clinics and nursing home facilities, as well as witnessing her niece graduate high school, in early 2023, Takia was accepted into the LPN to RN transition Nursing program at HCC.

Now that you know what an absolute rockstar she is, I have to tell you why we’re here and asking for help. Takia was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 19th of this year… (on the very first day of her nursing transition class) that she had quit her full time job to attend just 3 weeks before. Because of this she is not eligible for short term disability. Takia is an independent, and hardworking nurse who rarely works less than 70 hours a week because she is a hustler and trying to achieve a better life for herself. Takia is unable to work after a major 13 hour surgery to have a double mastectomy that didn’t go quite as planned. Chemo treatment is on the horizon, as well as another breast surgery. She would probably rather chew her own arm off than ask for help, but as her friends and family, we know she desperately needs help to keep a roof over her head, her vehicle, gas for trips to and from Baltimore, funds for items to help get through her chemo treatments as smoothly as she can and medical bills until she can (hopefully) go back to work in November. She may be too proud to ask for help but I’M NOT and I’m asking you guys to please help her out. It turns out that there aren’t many financial resources available when you are diagnosed with cancer, and this is a last-ditch effort so she can focus on kicking cancer’s butt instead of worrying about losing everything she worked so hard for!

If you’ve read this far, you’re a rockstar too and we appreciate you!