On July 9, Sonya Nikolsky – beloved mother, loving daughter, cherished friend, and vibrant artist – was diagnosed with terminal metastatic cancer at only 58 years of age, after barely 2 months of seemingly mild illness. On July 17, she learned from her oncologist just how aggressive, fast-spreading, and deadly her cancer is. It is not treatable, and she has been told she has only a few weeks to live. Sonya is leaving behind her three young daughters and her elderly mother, who all share a duplex in Durham, North Carolina. Twenty-year-old Victoria (me) was planning on returning to Amherst College for her junior year, while 18-year-old twins Iris and Olivia were due to begin their freshman year at Yale University and Williams College, respectively. Sonya’s 86-year-old mother, Adele, suffers from Parkinson’s-related dementia and is physically disabled. Adele requires constant care, and Sonya has been her primary caregiver for years. Sonya’s diagnosis has caused not only deep grief but intense financial pressure on our family. Sonya, who until her diagnosis worked as a clerk at the Durham County Public Library, has been the financial support for all three generations. Although my sisters and I have always had part-time and gig work, these jobs have never been major sources of income for the family. Unfortunately, my sisters and I will have to take time off of school to spend time with our mother, grieve, and heal. In this interim period and after our mother passes we will need funds to meet the various expenses for which we will be responsible, including but not limited to: · Funeral expenses · Mortgage and utility payments · Legal fees to prevent Medicaid from seizing the home and aid in the transferal of Sonya's estate · Ongoing care for Adele in a rehabilitation facility and then an assisted-living or nursing home · Insurance (house, car, health) · Groceries, co-pays, and incidentals My family’s plans – my returning to Amherst, the twins embarking on their first year of college, and Sonya and Adele continuing to live in the duplex they’ve shared for the past eight years – have been completely upended by this devastating development. We ask that you please help us in this difficult and tragic time. We are eternally grateful for any contributions you are able to make. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.
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