“Lookout, Myeloma” for Judie Butcofski DelVecchio

Hi, my name is Melissa, and I’m raising funds for my sister Judie’s medical care. She was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, the same cancer my father has. Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood that can attack the bones and bone marrow. It currently cannot be cured but is treatable.

I had no idea the extra costs she would incur that were not covered by insurance. This should not be an added worry to someone recently diagnosed with cancer. She had to take leave from her job and put it on hold. She works in hotel management in her quaint town of Beaufort, North Carolina. However, my sister lives very far from her whole family, most of whom are in northeastern Pennsylvania, and cannot be there for her daily. Her very supportive and caring husband, Eric, cannot leave her alone, so he has not been able to work either. She will need to undergo months of chemotherapy, then most probably a stem cell transplant. She hopes to travel to Duke Health, Division of Hematological Malignancies & Celluar Therapy Program for treatments, which will require funding.

It shocked our family to see our beautiful, creative, spiritual, and very active sister, daughter, mother, and new grandma goes from catching 8lb—bass to living in a zero-gravity chair. She is suffering from multiple back fractures due to her myeloma, and now something as simple as a shower can be a significant undertaking for a 57-year-old woman.

My niece Jocelynn thought of the name for this page, “Lookout, Myeloma,” to describe her mom. Cape Lookout, in the Outer Banks, is an extraordinary place in my sister’s heart. It is the location where she married her true soul mate Eric. Judie has always radiated positive energy and has been a beacon of light for her three children, family, and friends. I know she will face it head-on with her faith and many healing angels in her corner. As my father has, she will battle this blood cancer to live her best life.

It is genuinely heartbreaking to write this post. I still haven't wrapped my head around this cancer that has invaded my family. It has taken us on a long journey that seems not to end. I appreciate any help you can provide.

Melissa, a.k.a. Missy as my sis, would call me.

#lookoutmyeloma #judiesfight #mutiplemyeloma #bloodcancerawareness #cancerwarrior #mutiplemyelomaawareness