HELP MELISSA BECOME STRONGER THAN CANCER

Our loving, caring, outgoing, and charismatic daughter, Melissa, has been diagnosed with Stage 2b Triple Negative Breast Cancer (T2 N0). Melissa noticed a lump on her left breast the morning of November 1st, 2024. Coincidently, this was the same month I found a lump on my right breast six years ago. When Melissa noticed the lump, her gut was telling her that it was cancer as there were too many similarities with my triple negative cancer experience. The coming weeks after finding the lump led to mammograms, an ultrasound, a biopsy, pathology reports, and an MRI. On November 21st she was diagnosed with cancer. After meeting with her oncologist, it was determined that the cancer was 2.3 cms and her treatment plan was created leading to port placement surgery on November 26th and she will begin chemotherapy the week after Thanksgiving. Melissa’s treatment plan initially will consist of weekly chemotherapy (Carboplatin + Taxol) for 12 weeks, including the immunotherapy drug Keytruda every 3rd week.

After a short break, Melissa will start the second round of chemotherapy, which is projected to last 12 weeks. She will have Doxorubicin (aka red devil) + Cytoxan + Keytruda in this phase. This phase will also include shots to help boost her immune system. Then, she will have another short break, followed by her double mastectomy. Depending on imaging and pathology reports, there is a chance that she may need more chemotherapy. Once she is given the all-clear, she will have reconstructive surgery.

It’s hard for Melissa to ask for financial help as she is such a giving person. The reality of how expensive this treatment will be is already setting in. She has evaluated her health care plan and will have many copays and deductibles for months to come. She will also be impacted with the calendar year change making out of pocket expenses start all over again. Potentially, Melissa may be unable to work during part of her treatment phase and surgeries. We know this is going to be a long road ahead for her with deep financial impact. Melissa comes from a line of strong women! Both of her grandmothers are 90 years old, and as her mom, I am in my 5th year of remission from breast cancer. Melissa has always been one strong fighter, and we know she’s got this!

If you are reading this, we are asking for friends and family to offer help in any way you can, even the smallest donation will help them. Melissa helps take care of over 500 elementary students every day in her Assistant Principal role and now she needs all of us to help her focus on her illness and heal so that she can get back to her students. I have started this GoFundMe page to help Melissa, and her husband John get through their difficult journey. If you would like to contribute in other ways, please get in touch with her husband, John, or myself.

Thanks for all the kind words and prayers. Please continue to keep Melissa and our entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

We love you Melissa! You got this #TeamMelissa!

#TeamMelissa #MelissaStrong #MelissasFight