Melanie’s Kidney Cancer

My name is Emily, and my sister Melanie was recently diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, kidney cancer. She had to have her right kidney removed on October 3, 2019.


But wait, let me tell you a little more about Melanie and why I’m raising funds for my sister.

Melanie lives with her  husband Joe and their three dogs in a quiet little house in Waterman, IL. 


Melanie has been the main breadwinner for the past 6 1/2 years as her husband Joe has suffered from degenerative disc disease and has thus far been denied disability from Social Security.


Melanie had been working a full-time job at NIU during the day and a part-time job as a cashier at “Casey’s” to try to make ends meet.
 
As other health issues were being battled, uncontrolled diabetes, Hashimoto’s disease and Joe’s degenerative disc disease. Medical bills and past due notices started to pile up and soon only partial bills and house payments were able to be made.

Then in April 2019 there was a “ HAIL MARY”  and Melanie was offered an excepted a job as a second grade teacher at Creston elementary school.

This was a dream come true for Melanie because of her love to teach children, also the desperate need for an increased income was a big perk. 

Melanie excitingly started her new teaching job on August 13, 2019. But had started weeks earlier preparing her classroom for the new school year and for the students. Or as Melanie calls them, “Her Kids”.



Although Melanie had been to see a doctor for a suspected bladder infection in July 2019, what came of that further down the line was shocking, life shaking and scary. A diagnosis of RENAL CELL CARCINOMA,     KIDNEY CANCER!



Now, Melanie buys her own insurance off the Market Place as her job does not offer health, dental or vision insurance because the district she works for currently only has 19 employees.  As I mentioned before, Melanie is the breadwinner of the family and is is facing a recovery time that could be up to eight weeks. That is eight weeks, should no complications arise.

Melanie will be using her full school year of paid time off within her first 2 months at her new job. Leaving her & her husband Joe with NO income for possibly 6 weeks just from the surgery and any other time off she may require for the remainder of the school year.

I am desperately raising donations to aid my sister in paying for her health insurance, medical bills, food, utilities, housing and other miscellaneous bills to keep them afloat.


I am in hopes of raising $7000 so that my sister Melanie‘s cancer & surgery does not become a financial crisis.

Any donation would be so greatly appreciated. We are thankful for the outpouring of love and concern for Melanie’s health and well-being during this difficult time.