Nikki Dillon Morales was born in Chicago, IL on December 14th, 1987. She was stolen from us late on June 13th, 2019 in Phoenix, AZ. These dates mark the sunrise and sunset of this vibrant soul - yet don’t begin to capture the legacy of the woman who lived all the days and nights in-between. Nikki lived fiercely.

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From a young age Nikki, then ‘Nicole’, was gifted with tremendous determination and focus. As a toddler, this force of spirit meant gumming bagels before her teeth came in, eliciting exasperation and pride from her parents. As a child, the strength of her personality, intelligence and natural charisma were undeniable. In school, her orbit, composed mostly of silliness but also sensitivity, was inescapable. Giggles and glitter followed that girl like a comet trail. Although she was born Jana’s only child, this is where she first started recruiting her own sisters - a number that may have started small, but has grown to include hundreds.

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As a young woman, her rare determination combined with deep empathy and a keen sense of justice led Nikki to study political science and women’s studies at American University. Never one to balk from adventure, this meant moving across the country to explore a new city. While at AU, Nikki pledged Phi Mu gaining even more sisters. As if a cross-country move weren’t enough, Nikki set her sights even wider. After conquering D.C., she spent a season studying in Australia and South Asia, regaling those of us left in the States with tales both harrowing and scandalous.  After graduating, another grand adventure was in order; out west to Arizona. She left to take a job at a non-profit, but little did she know, she was moving to meet the love of her life and adventure partner John. 

 

After falling ill, Nikki became a certified GIST patient advocate, working to connect others with her rare disease and collecting research on their cases. While battling her illness, and advocating for others, Nikki earned her MBA and was a founding member of Stronger Together AZ.

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Whether personally or professionally Nikki always wanted to help and protect people. Being loved by Nikki was to have the most impossibly fiery and bright shield defending you. Now, that’s not to say, she wouldn’t tell you, when you were being an idiot- she would. For someone with that level of ferocity and exacting expectations of herself and others, she had tremendous grace and capacity for forgiveness and love.

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Even after she grew ill, Nikki defended people. Though suffering, she still fought for herself and her family in the GIST community. Through the strength of her willpower and spirit, she continued to protect her friends and show how much she loved them- even if it was something as simple as reminding them to hydrate.

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Nikki was so many things; world traveler, writer, speech giver, activist, foster parent to cats, friend, sister, granddaughter, wife and daughter. She was a burst of light in a world that didn’t deserve her. The task of quantifying her loss is impossible.

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The world is darker now that she has gone, but our lives are brighter having known her.