In Support of Zikiyah “Yanii”
During her PGC chemotherapy treatment, she experienced a severe allergic reaction to paclitaxel that nearly progressed to anaphylactic shock. Additionally, her cisplatin dose was limited because of previous liver concerns. We are now waiting to learn what adjustments her medical team will make to determine the safest path forward.
🙏🏽 We continue to pray, advocate, and fight for our girl.
Your continued prayers, shares, and donations are greatly appreciated 🧡😩🤞🏽
We are still waiting to be released from Duke. Right now, our focus is Zikiyah, her treatment, and getting her through this one day at a time. We are so grateful for every prayer, donation, share, message, and act of love. Every bit of support is helping us stay close to her and navigate the unexpected. When everything works out for tomorrow we will have round 2 of chemo. 🥹🧡🤞🏽
🧡🤞🏽As of October 2nd, Zikiyah has been admitted to Duke for immediate chemotherapy. After her bone scan and ct scan appointment, we were called back and told she needed to be admitted rather than wait until her originally scheduled chemo treatment on October 7th.
Her renal medullary carcinoma is aggressive and progressing rapidly, so her doctors have decided to begin chemotherapy immediately.
We will continue to keep everyone updated and appreciate every prayer, donation, and continued support for our baby. 🧡🙏🏽
🧡 With her permission, I’m sharing Zikiyah’s story because right now my only priority is making sure my daughter gets the care and treatment she needs.
As her mother, I wish I could fix all of this for her. I wish I could take the pain, fear, and uncertainty away. Since I can’t, I’m doing everything I can to make sure she knows she isn’t fighting this alone.
Just months ago, Zikiyah was working multiple jobs, doing hair, making her own money, and building her future. Now, at only 19 years old, she is preparing to start chemotherapy and fight for her health.
We eventually learned that she has a large mass on her right kidney, with concerning involvement of a nearby lymph node and nodules that doctors are also monitoring in her lungs.
I have had to stop working so I can be there for her, and she is unable to work while going through this. That means we are facing not only the emotional weight of her diagnosis, but also the financial reality of losing both of our incomes while her treatment continues.
We don’t know exactly what the months ahead will look like, but we know October 7th begins a new chapter in this fight. 🥺🤞🏽💗
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- Created Sep 25, 2026
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Marquis Williams 1 day ago • with donation
Shamika Shepherd 6 days ago • on '🤞🏽🧡💪🏽' update
Anonymous 11 days ago • with donation
Amwhite22291 11 days ago • on 'Update 🧡 10/21' update
Shamika Shepherd 12 days ago • on 'Update 🧡 10/21' update
Edie Mendelsohn 14 days ago • with donation