Hi, I'm Stefanie, luckiest little sister on Earth, because I share my life with Nikole. Niki is a free spirit, a kind old soul, a dog whisperer and lover, a peaceful human, and one of my favorite people on this planet. Nikole was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago, and kicked its butt with a vengeance. To watch her go through what she went through so bravely and at times, all alone, is why she is also the strongest person I know. Niki lives a simple and honest life. All she ever wants is to be happy & healthy with her dogs, Pablo & Bilbo, whom she lives and breathes for. She doesn't need materials to feel fulfilled, she just needs a little grace right now. 3 years ago, Nikole refused to agree to me setting up a fundraiser for her cancer medical bills. She wanted to fight the many battles against her health and finances on her own accord. And you know what, she absolutely did!! Which is why she is one of the people I admire the most. Over the past 3 years, she has made enormous monthly payments on her medical bills, has had to meet her high deductible each year, and WAS about 2 months away from being medical debt free. She scraped and saved and did without to pay her $30,000 medical debt. And this is how I ended up starting this today. Nikole recently had yet another tragedy to endure. Her third beloved little rescue fur baby, Winifred (Winnie Beans!), rapidly began to lose her fight with mental health & behavioral issues. Despite Nikole taking every possible measure to help 4 year old Winifred get healthy, it was time to say goodbye. About 2 weeks before the painful day when Winnie was put to sleep, she bit Nikole in the left forearm quite severely during one of her behavioral episodes. Having endured a dog bite previously with no issues, and having to spend the next 10 days mouring the decision that they would be Winnie's last, Nikole treated her bite at home, monitored it diligently, and felt fine. Unfortunately, after 15 days of healing and health, the bite wound turned severely infectious. In a whirlwind of unexpected news on August 3, 2024, in a series of doctors appointments, Niki learned she would need to be hospitalized for surgery to treat the severe infection, which had spread to her bone. The pain and anguish in her voice when she called me with the news is still heart breaking - the unfairness of her having to go through yet another round of extreme hospital bills when she was so close to being freed from that burden. Nikole is my bestie. I would do anything with her - it's why we have matching tattoos that say, "I'll go with you". And because of this story, I am asking we all go with Nikole and give to her fund so she can be free from outrageous, unfairly high medical bills and live her best life with her pups, being the awesome human she is, without the stress of another medical financial burden.
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