Help Nicole Marsel through Stage IV Breast Cancer

Nicole needs our support to kick cancer’s ass one more time!

The sweetest, most gracious, adventurous, loving soul, we all know and love, just received heartbreaking news: the breast cancer she beat, two ½ years ago at the age of 36, with 18 rounds of chemo and 32 rounds of radiation, has returned. With the cancer metastasizing to her entire liver, clavicular lymph node and bones, she is now Stage IV. 

 

In her first courageous battle with breast cancer, Nicole never once asked for help from anyone and continued to dedicate herself to her full-time job she selflessly loved at the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe. This time around, she needs help from her community. To know Nicole, is to know she would never ask for help or a single donation, but what are friends for? We can step in to assist with some crushing debt and financial burden this debilitating news brings. Even with health insurance, the cost of Nicole’s medical bills are just too much for one person, one friend or one family, to bear. Fortunately, the power of many can make a significant difference.

 

Asking anyone to donate is difficult for the simple reason, we never know what anyone else is going through. With that being said, please know every grand gesture or dollar donated is a gift that will resonate with Nicole forever. The support alone will help boost her morale, and together, we can keep Nicole smiling as she takes on the challenge of kicking cancer's ass once again!

 

As if this surprising news wasn’t heartbreaking enough, a routine liver biopsy May 25th left her in the ICU for five days. The situation was further complicated due to her lifelong bleeding disorder, which lead her to lose a significant amount of blood, and dropped her blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, unfathomably, that intense stay in the ICU landed her with hospital-acquired pneumonia and a long road to recovery.

 

Due to the complications from her biopsy, the toll this recent diagnosis has taken on her, and the effects of cancer itself, Nicole is now on medical leave from the job she loves at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada in Carson City. 

 

Throughout all of this, the most remarkable part has been Nicole’s unbreakable spirit, fierce determination, positive attitude, and bright smile. She is truly inspiring! We can only hope everyone is lucky enough to know and love someone with this much heart, just once in their lifetime.

 

More details on Nicole’s recent fight in kicking cancers ass:

 

Unfortunately, for over a month after her stay in the ICU, the pain around her liver became severe enough that lying down to rest and sleep were almost unbearable. The fatigue still makes it difficult to complete simple daily tasks, and the fluid lingering around her lung is leaving her with a constant cough.

 

She also had a bone scan June 27th which showed that in addition to the cancer spreading to her liver and a lymph node in her neck; it’s also in her humerus bone near her rotator cuff, and the ribs in her upper back, including her scapula. 

 

Fortunately, though, Nicole has been accepted into the nation's top cancer hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. This is an unbelievable opportunity and one that gives her, and us hope. Nicole’s treatment isn’t just several months like when she had chemo and radiation in 2020. Stage IV metastatic breast cancer is now a lifelong battle, a battle to keep Nicole alive as long as possible, or as she says, “until I’m 110”. Her doctor in Houston reminds us, “This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.” She will stay on the same medicine until it stops working/shrinking the tumors, and hopefully a new drug or trial is ready to go if/when that happens.

 

Nicole has already accrued close to her annual salary in total medical bills since her original breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. We started this GoFundMe and Venmo account to help her with the costs she has and the costs that will continue to grow relating to her cancer treatments, medications, food, travel and lodging expenses while she’s getting this necessary care. Donations will also support mental health programs and alternative wellness support which insurance does not cover. All funds will go directly to Nicole.  

 

Nicole has a bright spirit, one that has shined on so many. She's fearless and such a good human. Her work as the Director of Marketing and Events at the Boys & Girls Club is touching and she often talks about how important it is to support our youth's positive development by helping them feel supported, grow, thrive, love, and learn. She’s made it her job to help others live their best life and now it’s time for us to help her live hers. Nicole is normally one of the most active people in Tahoe. On her favorite days, you can find her wakesurfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, split boarding, taking her 14-month golden retriever Rooster on adventures, paddle boarding, running, or going to the beach year around. She loves cross country skiing, and playing softball, hockey, volleyball and golf. And the off chance she’s not playing sports, she lives for traveling and spending time with her family 1,500 miles away. But now she needs us more than ever and we need her so she can continue to be that reminder to us all to never give up.

 

No one should have to face this alone. Nicole needs us! Any amount helps, and every dollar counts. No amount is too small. If you prefer to send money to Nicole directly, her Venmo handle is (@NicoleMarsel). If you cannot support financially, please help spread the word and share her story.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Nicole always enjoys a good adventure and fun jokes so send one her way to let her know she is loved!! 

 

We are all fighting for you, Nicole!!!!! 

 

YOU ARE A BADASS!!! YOU GOT THIS, KICK CANCER’S ASS!