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Niki's Fight to Stick It to Sarcoma

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Leland, IL
Niki's Fight to Stick It to Sarcoma

Niki Berkland is a life-long resident of the Illinois Valley. In August of 2013, Niki was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma bone cancer.

Niki Berkland has been diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma(bone cancer). It was a large mass attached to her lower pelvis. Complete removal of the mass and affected bones and organs was the only way to fight this form of cancer. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy are not effective for Chondrosarcoma. Niki has been cared for by a strong, loving family, amazing group of friends and coworkers, and the wonderful doctors and medical facility at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She traveled to Mayo Clinic to start the process of battling this cancer, with surgery scheduled for October 7th. After a 20+ hour surgery, several serious complications, and over two month stay in the hospital, Niki was sent home mid-December with very little mobility and a huge recovery in front of her. The great news is the cancer was successfully removed! The good news is she continues to improve, slowly, with extensive in-home physical therapy and nursing care. As we can all imagine, medical care and extended illness is a VERY expensive ordeal. This page has been created to show Niki how much love and support she has and to provide information about fund-raising activities.

08/19/2025

Feeling nervous everytime I come here! Positive thoughts and good juju needed!

11/05/2024

I'm excited, yet nervous about my doctor appointment tomorrow with the Pain Center at Rush. Hopefully the doctor will actually listen to me and hear my concerns and issues. I just want someone to hear me!!

10/07/2024

I am very thankful that I am cancer free, let's get that clear!! My metals testing came back that I have high levels of titanium in my blood. My specialist said there's really nothing else he can do for me. He thinks if we go in and try to fix the hip, that it'll only make it worse. He's not worried about my hip making the popping in and out feeling. He said the hardware looks good still. But that's an awful feeling and scares the s**t outta me when my hip shifts in and out. So my "specialist" referred me to a different orthopedic surgeon to see if he had any other ideas and to talk about my blood levels. I met with this new doc. First of all, he's not worried at all about the titanium levels floating around in my blood. "It's normal because you have a titanium implant." I asked him about amputation of the leg. He didn't take me seriously, and I don't think everyone else does either. He laughed at me. "You've been so strong and made it this far for the past 11 years now, just keep going." That's true, I have made it this far. Trying to keep a smile on my face and being positive is taking a toll on me. The pain is ridiculously awful! I'm just so tired. I think the only thing that's keeping me going is my family..... especially this little one!

05/25/2024

This October, I will be 8 years cancer free! I can't believe it.
Let's just keep our fingers crossed that my metals testing comes back negative, because I've been having one hell of a time with my hip. Between the pain, and it popping in and out, this is no fun at all!!

10/07/2023

In my head, I actually swear I'm only 38 years old. In some odd way, time has stood still for the past 10 years. Cancer has taken so much away from me, including my mind! 10 years..... it's been that long since I've been given a second chance on life. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it though, it feels like a punishment. Every day, God has thrown something new at me. Wether it be cancer recurrence 3 times, MULTIPLE treatments of radiation, hospitalized a few times for kidney issues, becoming septic from a routine procedure, me trying to cut off my thumb from trying to pry frozen burritos apart with a butcher knife, and most of all, taking my mom away from me..... I try to keep smiling. I'm trying like hell to fight thru the pain, both physical and mental. I need to be here for my girls. There's so much more I want to see and do. I want to see all of my girls be happy and content in life. I want to live to be a grandma, a fun and active one like my sister Beth is to Rush. I wanna be like her!! However they better not call me grandma, because in my mind I'm still 38. "Lovee" it is!!
So this morning I raise my cup of coffee and cheers to the past 10 years, and to hopefully a healthier next 10 and many more. Thank you to everyone who has helped me thru this roller coaster of a journey, especially to the best ones, Charlie, Abbie, Olivia, Jacey, Matt, and Bannie. Much love and thanks to all!! 💞🎗

08/16/2023

So my doc from Mayo got back with me last week. He took my case to his colleagues, and unfortunately there's nothing they can do for me. I was hoping to have my pseudohernia put in a mesh, but because I don't have the anatomy everyone else does, there's no way they can figure anything out. One recommendation they have, I can get a colostomy and remove part of intestines, and that'll help with part of the pressure and load in my pseudohernia. Hell.... I have a urostomy, why not a colostomy too!!! Frustrated beyond belief 😤

08/05/2023

Ok..... I'm started to feel a little uncertain and scared. The doc said he'd talk with his colleagues and get me an answer by the end of the week, whether or not they thought they'd be able to tackle my surgery. I haven't heard anything. Good news or bad, I guess that could go either way.

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Leland, IL
60531

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