Nicole Mastyk celebrates her birthday today. But she’s more focused on a day next week. On Dec. 12, she’ll undergo surgery for a double mastectomy.
Just last Wednesday, the Queen Creek resident was diagnosed with two types of stage 2 breast cancer. It’s been a whirlwind week for her, her husband Blake and the rest of their family.
I met Nicole and Blake when they opened The Deli in Queen Creek in 2007. Despite its plain name and country-casual decor, the restaurant was something special, doling out gourmet sandwiches at lunch and fine-dining specials in the evening.
It featured local meats and produce, baked its own bread and desserts, and Nicole even made the ice creams in a variety of unusual flavors – long before such things became trendy in the Valley.
Nicole oversaw the front of the house, and Blake served as chef. It was a family affair. Blake’s brother worked alongside him in the kitchen, and his parents often waited tables.
As the couple’s young son, Miles, reached school age, Nicole and Blake recognized they couldn’t keep working past midnight every day. So they sold The Deli and instead opened The Bistro, their current restaurant.
By serving only breakfast and lunch, they are able to spend time as a family in the evenings.
Now they face their greatest challenge yet, as Blake Mastyck explains on a just-launched GoFundMe page:
‘‘In the past few days there has been a lot of crying, worrying, speculating, guessing, assuming and what ifs. But surprisingly out of all this we have been fortunate to see so many loving and caring people truly trying to help. I have learned a lot about our insurance in the last five days. Our savings are gone, our credit cards will be maxed by the end of the week. I was able to upgrade and change to improve our insurance, but at a cost. I have been sick to my stomach thinking about money, insurance, surgery, at least six weeks recovery, more findings, our rent, business rent, our great employees, Christmas and bills.’’
The community response has been amazing. In its first day, the page raised more than $10,000 of its $35,000 goal. To learn more or to donate, click here.
