Help Nicole Through Cancer Treatment

I didn't think that it would come to this and never did I think I would have to promote a GoFundMe for my friend Nicole, especially as she is only 42 years old and no one thinks that they will face a life and death situation at this age. As many of you know, Nicole was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma in April of 2021. At that time, Nicole's life was rough enough. She was going through a separation, which has now turned to divorce proceedings. Nicole lost her mother in 2011 after a sudden and unexplainable death. Her biological father has been absent her entire life and she has been out of touch with her step father. Nicole shares 50/50 custody of her daughter, who was a preemie, born at only 23 weeks gestation. Nicole has a very limited support system and really needs our help right now.

Nicole was close to a 20 year career in property management and when she got her diagnosis. Her FMLA has run out. Her previous employer, instead of working with her to allow her to receive treatment for her disease and work at the same time, told her she would be terminated if she did not accept a position within the company, far away from her doctors and treatment center. Although Nicole desperately wanted and needed to continue working, she was unable to accept that position and was ultimately terminated. Since then, between chemo and side effects from that, Nicole has been able to doordash when feeling well enough in order to try to make ends meet. One of the heaviest blows due to this income loss was that she received discounted housing due to her employment. Her termination left her with a rent obligation that has proved difficult since the cancer diagnosis.

Since April, Nicole has been able to receive a small AFLAC stipend each month. This payment is only disbursed when she is receiving chemotherapy. Nicole's last chemo treatment before surgery was at the beginning of October. Her next stage in her cancer battle is a double mastectomy which will happen November 3, 2021. The chemo was temporarily halted in order for her body to rest so she will be able to heal from her surgery next month. The recuperation time for this surgery is typically 6-8 weeks, during which she will not be able to doordash and will have zero income to pay rent, bills, her daughter's needs and very importantly, her car payment, which is her only source of transportation to get to doctor's appointments, etc. The first stage of her cancer battle was scary but this next stage is terrifying for her as she will have to worry about not having any way to financially take care of herself while healing from a life and body altering procedure. Six weeks after the mastectomy, she will begin radiation 5 days a week for 4 weeks. During this time chemo will also start back up. As much as she longs to return to her career and a sense of independence and financial security, finding a new employer who will accept a new employee that temporarily needs such a flexible schedule will prove very difficult, as Nicole has unfortunately found out over the past 6 months.

All of this is severely compounded with Nicole's lack of a stable support system. Nicole's divorce, her lack of support, her financial insecurity from a cancer diagnosis with a one year minimum treatment plan has proven to be more than she can shoulder, no matter how hard she tries. It breaks my heart to see her in this position and I am asking my friends and family, Nicole's friends and family and anyone who has been faced with multiple life challenges all at once and knows that a person can only take so much, to help Nicole to be able to fight for her life without having to worry about being homeless in the process. I appreciate all of you........and so will Nicole.