Life and Death

Nikki married Scott Schultz, the love of her life, in 2012. "I was in awe of her," Scott said. "She was so beautiful and very outgoing. Nikki was also very athletic and strong and had an unreal work ethic."

The couple was ecstatic when their son, Beckett, was born in 2019. Four years later, they were overjoyed to learn that Nikki was pregnant again. During the pregnancy, they learned their daughter had Trisomy 13, a severe genetic condition. Nikki was determined to give Malayna as much life as possible and carried her to full term. Their little girl lived 45 minutes.

In July 2025, Nikki was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. She and her family pursued treatment with the determination that had always defined her. When chemotherapy was no longer effective, they sought another option in Arizona. But complications and an infection left Nikki too ill to begin the treatment they had hoped for.

When doctors shared that there were no more treatment options, Cathy and Nikki's sister-in-law, Hanni, who works in health care, both thought of Quiet Oaks immediately. The family chartered a medical jet to bring Nikki home to Minnesota and into our care.

For Cathy, that trust had begun years earlier. Dr. Tom Wyne, who delivered Nikki, served on the Quiet Oaks' original board when it opened in 2008. She remembered him describing this remarkable place. Now, at a moment her family had never imagined facing, Quiet Oaks became a blessing they experienced for themselves.

"I can't say enough good things about Quiet Oaks," Cathy shared. "We were immersed into a family that took us all on."

Cathy described a welcoming environment and exemplary care that extended beyond Nikki to everyone who loved her. They could stay with their daughter, share meals and receive ongoing communication from the care team. With those needs cared for, they could give their attention to Nikki and to one another as they faced the end of her life.

Nikki was at Quiet Oaks for just three days, but the care her family received in that brief time stayed with them. This is the heart of Quiet Oaks: tending to a resident's needs while also caring for the people gathered around them. A prepared meal, a place to rest and a caring conversation can help a family feel held during the hardest days of their lives.

When it was clear Nikki would not survive her cancer, she decided it was time to tell Beckett. She told him that "Mommy has to go to heaven to be with Malayna," Cathy remembers, tears welling in her eyes. "You and daddy are a team here on earth."

"Beckett took the news stoically," Cathy said. "He said "Okay" and hugged his mother."

The night before his mom's funeral, Beckett drew a picture. It showed Beckett and his dad standing next to the family home. A stairway of hearts led to the heavens where a woman and a baby floated among the clouds. "That was Beckett's way of acknowledging that he and his dad were a team on earth, and Nikki and Malayna were a team in heaven," Cathy said.