the nursing student raised $ 5,000 through a fundraising website after telling family and friends that she was suffering from cancer .
miss hudson 's friends , who have known her since high school in dayton , ohio , went to great lengths to show their support - they shaved their heads in solidarity and getting tattoos .
the 25-year-old , who lives in chula vista , california , also had a fundraising website set up for her by her stepmother , margaret hudson .