When Nikisha Hill looks back on the last few years of her life, she sees a journey marked by fear, resilience, unexpected challenges, and overwhelming gratitude. Her cancer story is not just about diagnosis and treatment, but about perseverance, family, and the role of community following a cancer diagnosis.

Before cancer entered her life, Tori was constantly on the move. She worked full time across four different jobs, including bartending, managing, social media work, a cleaning job, and internet sales. Outside of work, she was deeply involved with friends and devoted to being a full time mom to her young son. Life was busy, demanding, and full.

This was the reality for one family supported by Vickie’s Angel Foundation.

The wife was diagnosed with advanced bile duct cancer after months of unexplained pain and sleepless nights. While she was still adjusting to treatment, her husband was rushed to the emergency room after severe symptoms he believed were minor. By morning, he too had been diagnosed with cancer.

For Tommy, life was full. A dedicated massage therapist, passionate cook, loyal friend, and lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers, he spent his days helping others feel better in their bodies, sharing home-cooked meals, and enjoying the little things, gardening, dinners with friends, and music.

Before her diagnosis, Christina was always the one helping others. A single mom, she poured her energy into her community as a Girl Scout leader and as a volunteer at the local firehouse. She loved gathering with friends for game nights and bonfires, cherishing time with the people she loves. When she moved to Pennsylvania, the pandemic forced her to put some of that on hold, but her heart for people never changed.

When Jennifer Schweighart’s family turned to Vickie’s Angel Foundation in 2016, they were in the midst of a difficult fight. Her mother, Debra Waligora, was traveling to Philadelphia for experimental treatment, and the financial strain weighed heavily on the family. Within 48 hours of applying, VAF provided the support her parents needed for travel expenses.

Before her diagnosis, life was filled with simple joys, spending time with family and friends, working at her longtime job, and praising God in church. A natural homebody, she loved curling up at home with a good book or her favorite shows, finding comfort in laughter and the warmth of loved ones.

An experienced delivery driver, 37 year old Patrick Herr knew how to navigate busy roads and daily routines. But in August 2023, Patrick and his family hit an unexpected roadblock.

Prior to her diagnosis, LaRae Mena lived a vibrant life. As a human resources professional at a large security company, she balanced a busy schedule of pickleball, choral singing, and regular visits with family. Her life was full, until everything changed over Thanksgiving weekend in 2022.

Florida sun burns down hot. Working outside 14-15 hours a day can be dangerous. Just ask Rodney Updegrave. Rodney burned his shoulder in 2019 while working construction and maintenance in Florida. The small burn from a cigarette ash never properly healed due to exposure to the sun. Instead, it got larger and nastier, until one day Rodney decided he had better see a doctor.