Support Melissa Mahoney’s Recovery Journey

Friends and Family,

 

Those who know and love Melissa also know that over the last several years she has been battling a recurring infection in her foot.  After years of surgeries, procedures, hospitalizations, and endless antibiotics, it seemed like there was no end in sight.  So in December 2021, she made the very hard and brave decision to amputate her leg below the knee.  The initial surgery went very well and after months of healing she was anxiously waiting for her prosthetic. But then she learned she would need one more final surgery to remove excess skin and tissue for a proper fit. On May 10, 2022, Melissa had what she hoped was the last surgery on her leg. On May 16, she started experiencing severe and unmanageable pain in her leg and lower back, she was rushed to the ER and after evaluation, admitted. The infection was back. After several days of treatment it looked like things were improving and she would be discharged on Thursday, May 26 to continue healing at home.  When mom, Joy Mahoney, was unable to reach her on Thursday to find out what time she was being discharged, she went to the hospital and found Melissa in an unresponsive state and in kidney failure.  It is still unclear what caused this sudden and devastating development, the Doctors are still working to get to the root of it.  Friday she started dialysis, had a blood transfusion, and had yet another surgery to clean out the infection in her leg. Saturday evening, during a brain wave test, it was found that Melissa was having seizures, it appears they were constant and may have started when she first became unresponsive on Thursday.  She was in very critical condition and after she was stabilized, put into a drug induced coma, and intubated, she was care flighted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Downtown Fort Worth. Today, 5 days later, we are so overwhelmingly thankful that she is starting to wake up, she is opening her eyes and trying to talk but she is still intubated and not very happy about that. Her kidneys are still not functioning, and she may be facing amputation above the knee in order to get all of the infection. We are waiting for more tests, MRIs, EEGs, Spinal Tap, etc. they are working around the clock to get her better.  Melissa has a long recovery ahead of her.

 

Melissa has endured so much.  She is also a cancer survivor.  She was diagnosed with stage 3B colon cancer in December of 2019 and  spent a year fighting this awful disease, a year of surgeries, chemo, and radiation - but she beat it and is in remission.  Even during her battle with cancer she continued to have problems with the infection in her foot.  She hoped and prayed that the amputation would finally end her years of pain, treatments, and hospitalizations.  She faced this next challenge the same way she has all of the others, with her incredible strength, humor and stubbornness - #melissastubborn #mahoneystrong.  She said she was ready for a fancy new leg with a cool paint job :) she was ready to walk again.

 

Even during her hardest times Melissa has always been there for others.  She is a very active and involved mom to Josslyn and many other kiddos who she claims as her own. She is a loving daughter who also helps care for Dad, Brian Mahoney, who suffered a severe Traumatic Brain injury in an auto accident in 2018. 

 

I know many will want to know how they can help Melissa and her family during this challenging time. Years of Medical bills, expenses, and long absences from work have taken a financial toll. We created this page with hopes that we can help by alleviating some of the financial worries so she can focus on what matters most, treatment, healing, and recovery. She has a new Journey to begin, another chapter to write as she would say, an exciting and happy future to live with Jason, Josslyn, and Dakota. Please share this page so we can raise as much as we can and show her all of the love and support she deserves. Every donation, no matter how small, adds up. Thank you for reading and sharing this - please keep Melissa and her family in your prayers and thoughts.

 

Melissa’s Aunt Lisa