8-year-old with cancer no longer facing eviction from NFM community

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – An 8-year-old girl fighting cancer will now be allowed to stay in her grandmother’s 55+ community during treatment, according to the owner’s of the property.

Amani, who is fighting a rare form of stomach cancer, has been staying with her grandmother, Jan Malaspino, at Windmill Village since February. On Thursday, her grandma got a notice saying Amani and her mother, Jaime Norton, would need to leave within seven days.

“The office said I hear your children, grandchildren, are staying with you and I said yes because she has cancer and they said, ‘well, that don’t matter, she’s got to get out,'” Malaspino said on Thursday.

Norton explained she had to quit her job in order to take care of Amani who has been feeling very sick in between her chemotherapy treatments.

“I have no income so we’re just staying here while she was just sick because it’s easier. I have help with her and my other children.”

While some neighbors say “rules are rules,” others wanted to speak up for the family.

“This is a special circumstance and doesn’t bother me, what’s that poor little girl doing, trying to live,” Joan Edwards said.

While management at Windmill Village wouldn’t comment, Equity LifeStyle Properties–who owns the property–released a statement less than 24 hours later:

“We are committed to working with Ms. Malaspino so that her daughter, Ms. Norton, and her granddaughter, Amani, can remain together in their home at Windmill Village during Amani’s treatment for cancer. We are all hoping for Amani to make a full recovery.”

Under Florida law, to qualify as a 55-and-over community, at least 80% of the homes have to have at least one person over the age of 55.