Hi, my name is Michelle, and I’m creating this fundraiser on behalf of my sister, Nicole, who is going through an incredibly difficult chapter in her life.
Nicole has spent years sharing healing energy and kindness with others — now she needs a little help in return.
If you follow Nicole on TikTok, you know the magic she brings to the world. She offers free Reiki through her live videos, calming energy work, and a sense of peace to so many people who need it. She does this from the heart, not asking for anything in return.
But now Nicole needs us.
In September 2024, Nicole moved into what she hoped would be her peaceful new home. But over the past several months, something started going very wrong. Nicole began getting sicker and sicker. Despite seeing doctors and running countless tests (many not covered by insurance), no one could figure out what was happening.
She got so ill she couldn’t get out of bed. Her job placed her on three months of unpaid leave. Finally, after months of symptoms, doctors discovered the heartbreaking cause: black mold was hiding in her apartment, slowly poisoning her.
Because Nicole is highly allergic to mold, the exposure has been especially devastating. She had to leave her home—the space she lovingly created for herself—because it became too dangerous to stay. She is now living with our mom, who supports her through daily care and drives her everywhere, as Nicole is currently unable to drive or work.
While she receives limited short-term disability, the process has been incredibly inconsistent—with weeks between payments and constant delays requiring repeated paperwork from her doctors. This has only added stress on top of what is already an exhausting medical and emotional journey.
So far, she has been diagnosed with:
- Hyperadrenergic POTS – a form of dysautonomia that causes sudden, intense spikes in heart rate and blood pressure, along with symptoms like presyncope (feeling like you’re about to faint), temperature intolerance, shaking, and a constant feeling of internal restlessness or adrenaline surges.
- Histamine Intolerance – which means her body reacts severely to even small amounts of food, stress, or environmental factors
- Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) – a condition caused by biotoxin exposure that leads to widespread inflammation and neurological symptoms
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – causing profound exhaustion, sleep disturbances, and post-exertional crashes
- Binocular Vision Dysfunction – which leads to eye strain, eye pain, balance issues, and light sensitivity
- She is also working closely with a cardiologist to assess how these conditions may be impacting her heart, given the immense physical stress her body has been under.
A Day in Her Life
A day in Nicole’s life is incredibly inconsistent and challenging. Even simple movements—like going from lying down to sitting or standing—can cause her heart rate and blood pressure to spike dangerously. She struggles to walk, cook, do laundry, or complete basic tasks. Standing for more than five minutes or being exposed to heat, especially in the southern climate, can quickly trigger severe symptoms.
Nicole now carries ice packs and wears a neck fan daily to avoid overheating. Stepping outside, even for a moment, can leave her dizzy, faint, and disoriented. Her vision is often affected, and she deals with light sensitivity, eye pain, and episodes where she nearly blacks out if she moves too quickly.
She also experiences air hunger—a persistent and unsettling feeling of being unable to get a full breath. Even talking, walking, or sitting upright too long can bring on that out-of-breath sensation, leaving her drained and anxious.
Because of her histamine intolerance, even eating can be a minefield. She’s currently able to eat only about 12–15 foods safely, and is only able to introduce one new food every 4 to 5 days to determine whether her body can tolerate it. This makes nutritional variety extremely limited and the process of expanding her diet slow, grueling, and filled with uncertainty. Combined with chronic fatigue, this makes each day physically and emotionally exhausting.
Why I’m Asking for Help
Nicole recently received a professional mold remediation quote, and the work needed to make her home safe again is extensive. Her home tested positive for several types of mold, including black mold, which was found in the utility closet near her HVAC system. Unfortunately, this is likely what allowed spores to spread through the entire home via the ventilation system, making no room truly safe for her to recover in.
To safely return home, she needs help covering the cost of:
- Mold and black mold removal throughout the affected areas
- Servicing the HVAC and water heater system in the utility closet to ensure there are no leaks or condensation issues that could cause mold to return
- Sanitizing and cleaning all ductwork in her home
- Fogging the home with a solution to reduce mold spores and restore a healthy balance of bacteria
- Replacing three old sliding doors that are poorly insulated and deteriorating, which is allowing in outdoor mold spores, humidity, and the intense southern heat. The air quality tested outside these doors showed a notably higher concentration of mold spores, as this part of the home is located near water, making it especially susceptible to excess humidity and mold intrusion.
- Installing dehumidifiers to keep the indoor air safe in the southern climate
In addition to this urgent remediation, Nicole continues to manage daily medical expenses—many of which are not covered by insurance. These include:
- Specialist visits and lab work
- Prescription medications, supplements and detox support
- Possible mobility aids and additional accessibility aids for long term care
Recovery from mold toxicity at the severity Nicole is facing can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months—and that’s only if she can return to a safe environment and continue receiving consistent medical support.
Breakdown of Expenses
- $11,640 – Mold remediation including fogging, duct treatment, HVAC & water heater servicing, dehumidifiers, testing before and after treatment, replacing slider doors to prevent outdoor mold spores from entering the apartment.
- $3,465 – Medical bills already due that aren’t covered by insurance including functional doctor, lab-work, tests, ER visits, and specialty glasses for the eye conditions this caused.
About Nicole
Nicole has been a healer and light in so many people’s lives. She’s been practicing Reiki for over 20 years, and when the pandemic began, she immediately stepped forward to hold space for others. She began offering free collective Reiki sessions online to support people navigating waves of grief, fear, anxiety, loneliness, overwhelm, sadness, and uncertainty. Her intention was to create a safe, nurturing space where people could gather in community, feel seen, and remember that they weren’t alone during one of the most emotionally intense times in modern history.
Since then, she has continued to offer live healing sessions on TikTok, as well as private energy work, spiritual coaching, and courses that empower others to heal themselves and step into their own light.
Through her work, Nicole has helped countless people around the world find emotional relief, reconnect with their bodies after trauma, release long-held pain, and build the confidence to begin their own self-healing journeys. Her guidance has been a lifeline for many who felt hopeless or disconnected.
Nicole is also a devoted mom. Her daughter lives part-time with her in the apartment, and while she thankfully isn’t showing symptoms of mold toxicity yet, they both need a safe and healthy home. This makes the urgency to remove the mold even greater — not just for Nicole’s healing, but to protect her daughter’s long-term health as well.
Nicole has poured so much into her community—now she needs a village to pour back into her, so she can rest, recover, and one day return to the work she so deeply loves.
How Your Donation Will Help
Your donation will go directly toward urgent mold remediation and home repairs so Nicole can return to a safe space for healing.
If more is raised than needed for remediation, any additional funds will go directly toward her medical expenses and recovery needs.
Nicole has always shown up for others. If you’ve ever received reiki, comfort, healing words, or simply felt less alone because of her presence—please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser with someone who may feel called to help.
Healing is possible—but she can’t do this alone.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
With love and gratitude,
Michelle and Nicole
