Help Melissa Fight Stage 3 Cancer

Dear Family, Friends, and Caring Strangers,

My name is Kate and I am writing this plea on behalf of my dear friend, Melissa Linning. Melissa is not only a friend to me, she is a friend to many. She is the loving wife to Leighton Linning and the devoted mom to their four beautiful, young daughters. She is a mental health therapist who has dedicated so much of her life to helping others cope with trauma and overcome the challenges that accompany it. She is a positive light in so many lives and is always there in support of others. She now needs OUR support…

In May of this year, shortly after her 38th birthday, Melissa was diagnosed with colon cancer. After undergoing surgery to have the tumor and a foot of her colon removed, she and her family were given the news that her cancer was Stage III and that chemotherapy would be necessary to combat it. If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to follow Melissa's CaringBridge site to travel with her through this emotional and challenging journey in beating "Beatrice." (She has named her cancer Beatrice, to help her compartmentalize these new and daunting realities.)

As you can imagine, “Beatrice” brings with it some heavy costs. Since May, Melissa and her family have already paid--out of pocket--more than $15,000, and she has only completed 4 of her 12 chemo treatments thus far. While insurance will cover some costs, it won’t cover it all.

Doctors have warned that colon cancer tends to be more aggressive in younger patients. Cancer researchers have found that early-onset colorectal cancers tend to have different genetic characteristics than those diagnosed later in life, which contributes to why these cancers are more advanced at the point of diagnosed.

With this knowledge in hand, Melissa and her family recognize the importance of fighting "Beatrice" proactively and from multiple angles, to maximize her chances of survival and her future wellbeing. In addition to chemotherapy, Melissa has had genetic testing conducted, called RGCC, to identify how her body's cancer cells react to different types of chemotherapy and related treatments. This has helped her make informed decisions, together with her doctors, to formulate the best treatment plan for Melissa's individual body. None of this is covered by insurance but it has served to be vital in determining her best options, to monitor her ongoing treatments, and to decrease the chances of the cancer returning in the future.

While these findings are priceless for their knowledge, the testing does come with a price tag. The genetic testing was $5,000 initially and then tests are conducted periodically throughout treatment, at the cost of $900 for each visit. These tests will continue for approximately five years following her treatment.

Melissa is not one to ask for help, and frankly this request is very much outside of her comfort zone. However, for these reasons, I am turning to you, my/her friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and compassionate followers, to extend this plea for support. This GoFundMe campaign has been created to help rally around Melissa, and not at the request of Melissa, to ensure that she is able to get the best possible care, and to allow her and her family to focus on her health and treatment, without being constantly encumbered by the looming financial pressures lurking behind them.

Please consider donating to help Melissa and her family through this challenging and ever-evolving process. You can contribute through this campaign or directly through her Venmo account. We recognize that not everyone can contribute financially, which is absolutely ok and we wholeheartedly understand that. Your thoughts, prayers, and moral support are more than enough.

Should you be so willing, I also ask that you share Melissa’s story and this campaign with your family and friends to possibly inspire others to help. No amount is too small and any support - in whatever form - will be received with profound gratitude.

With infinite appreciation, thank you for your time, your interest, your support, and your shared love for Melissa.

Sincerely,

Kate

#BEATBEATRICE