Support Melissa’s Treatment for Stage 4 Cancer

*WOW. WOW. WOW. Sixty percent raised in 48 hours!!! You guys are so incredible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! What kindness, generosity, sacrifice and care. I was so nervous to fundraise because the goal just felt beyond attainable (especially after I read the treatment invoice wrong) and I'm over here speechless. Thank you guys for loving on my sister. Thank you Lord for answered prayers!

*Update: I changed the amount we are fundraising for because when I started the fundraiser yesterday I only had the treatment fees and did not realize the hospital fees are a separate expense . Thank you everyone for the outpouring of support!!!! What KINDNESS!!

Dear Friends, Family & Community -

I am reaching out to you with a heavy heart and a plea for help for my younger sister, Melissa. Over the past year she has been very private about her cancer diagnosis and treatment journey, not wanting to burden anyone. My sister is as tough as they come and is a fighter down to her core. She has a 12 year old daughter, Alessandra, who is the light of her life and she refuses to leave her behind without a mother. Melissa also owns a small business in Austin and has been relying on her amazing employees to keep things going as she hasn’t been able to work.

In June 2023, after over a year of illness and several misdiagnoses, Melissa was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Texas Oncology in Austin and this treatment was supposed to be all that was needed. However, by January 2024, a follow up scan showed that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, making her now stage 4. This prompted her to transfer to MD Anderson in Houston where she was enrolled in a promising clinical trial. Unfortunately, by May, we were absolutely gutted when she was pulled from the trial due to the cancer spreading to her bones, liver and lungs. The doctors at MD Anderson have presented her with one last option: a potent chemotherapy cocktail. They say it will only give her another 12 months to live at best. This is not enough time for her, for Alessandra, and for all of us who love her. Melissa will start the new chemotherapy treatments this week to try to contain the spread, but we have found another option that brings great hope beyond what the current standard of care can offer.

We were recently informed that Melissa has been accepted into The Williams Cancer Institute, founded by Dr. Jason Williams, who is a pioneer in immunology. This center offers cutting edge intratumoral immunotherapy combined with cryoablation and has a very high cure rate. Melissa met with Dr. Williams and he is very optimistic about her case. The expected cost will be just under $150,000 and is not covered by insurance. We need a huge amount of monetary support from all of you to help send her there and time is of the essence.

Your generous contributions will not only provide Melissa with a chance at life but also give Alessandra the gift of having her mom around to raise her.

Please consider donating whatever you can. If you are unable to donate, please share Melissa’s story with your network to help us reach as many people as possible.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and prayers!

Rachel LeBaron Assaad