Help Erin fight Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma

I’m Danielle and I’m fundraising for the medical and cancer treatments of my good friend, and co-worker, Erin.

Erin’s unconfirmed diagnosis is Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma. She’s undergone numerous tests and scans over the past three weeks and her team of doctors and nurses are working hard, and fast, to determine the best treatment plan.

Erin’s Story:

A few months ago, Erin was working out and felt some pain in her mid back. Her pain persisted and worsened and lead her to get an X-ray which was negative for any fractures, but revealed a 2.5 cm nodule in her right upper lung. She was told nodules are common and it was likely nothing of concern, but worthy of further examination via CT scan. The CT ultimately revealed a severe compression fracture with 50% height loss of her vertebral body. While the nodule did not look like a carcinoma on the CT, her doctors decided to investigate the fracture as potentially pathological, given the proximity to the nodule and the lack of any other known cause for such extensive damage. Erin hadn’t fallen or been in any recent accidents.

With additional scans, a lung biopsy, and a kyphoplasty—during which the surgeon retrieved bone samples—her team determined the T7 vertebra had been eaten away by a tumor. The lung biopsy came back positive for melanoma markers and Erin was referred to a Melanoma Specialist in Boston. Although her insurance extended their coverage for the first appointment, this specialist is out-of-network and Erin is uncertain of whether they’ll cover additional out-of-network visits.

Erin is a wife to Welitom and a mom to two beautiful boys, Nico and Luca. She’s an animal lover, CrossFitter, and just an overall amazing human being. Being a mom and an occupational therapist, she is used to helping and caring for others.

At this time, Erin is unable to work and will most likely need to undergo more surgery to stabilize her spine, in addition to starting immunotherapy treatment to kick cancer’s ass.

Please join me in raising money to relieve the financial stress and burden Erin and her family are facing. Please join me so they can focus on obtaining the absolute best care, so Erin can be healthy again for her family.