Friends, neighbors and other supporters have joined forces to help the family of a 10-year-old Lynbrook girl in the early stages of a fight against brain cancer.
Kimberly Nugent, an active student and multi-sport athlete, was hospitalized on Aug. 10 after experiencing severe headaches and nausea. Doctors diagnosed her with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor, and performed surgery that removed most of it.
Up next for Kimberly is a course of chemotherapy and radiation.
Donations continue to pour into a GoFundMe campaign launched seven days ago on behalf of her family, with $75,000 raised from more than 900 donations. The fundraiser is intended to ease the financial burden of medical care and time away from work as Kimberly’s parents, Timothy and Kristen Nugent, focus on her recovery.
“Kimberly is every parent’s dream. She is truly one of the most genuine, sweet, kind, funny, and charismatic children anyone could meet,” wrote Jon Gladstone, who established the GoFundMe effort on behalf of the Nugents. “She .. brings absolute light and joy to anyone she meets. She is loved by so many friends, teachers, coaches and family.”
The Nugents are well known in Lynbrook for their public service. Timothy Nugent is a 20-year veteran of the NYPD Harbor Unit and also serves in the U.S. Coast Guard and New York State Naval Militia. Kristen Nugent works in the Lynbrook Village building department.
Multi-sport athlete
Kimberly, the eldest of three sisters, is a star player on her youth lacrosse, basketball and volleyball teams.
“Kristen and I want to thank each and every one of you for all the love and support you have shown our family during the most difficult time of our lives as our young daughter Kimberly begins her battle against cancer,” Timothy Nugent wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page.
“The financial support you have provided will undoubtedly help us give everything we have to go down this road and fight alongside her and for that we are beyond grateful,” he added.
Top photo: Courtesy of GoFundMe
